Comet C/2025 R3 Panstarrs: View from Spain
Astrophotographer Frank Niebling: "Comet Panstarrs shows nice structures: It has now several jets that result in separate gas tails. These were interacting with a turbulence in the solar wind in the morning of 28.03.2026 and curled the gas tail."
Discovered by the Pan-STARRS survey in September 2025, the comet is diving toward its closest approach to the sun (0.50 AU) on April 19, 2026, bringing it well inside the orbit of Venus. If current trends continue, the comet could brighten to magnitude +2, easily seen and photographed in the pre-dawn sky.
The comet's brightness will receive a further boost between April 24-25 when it passes almost directly between Earth and the Sun. The process is called "forward scattering." Sunlight passing through the comet's dusty atmosphere could be amplified 100-fold or more.
We will not be able to see the April 24 surge from Earth. The comet will be too close to the Sun. However, coronagraphs onboard the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) will have a great view of what could briefly become a truly magnificent object.
Location: PixelSkies, Spain
Image Details: 4x3min Tec 140 at f5, Asi 6200mm in L, 4h16-4h35 UT 8x3min Askar 300, Qhy367c, 4h14-4h42 UT Authors: Frank Niebling, Michael Buechner
Frank's website: https://www.sternfreundefranken.de
Release Date: March 28, 2026
#NASA #Astronomy #Space #Science #Comets #CometC2025R3Panstarrs #SolarSystem #Astrophotography #FrankNiebling #Astrophotographers #Spain #España #Europe #STEM #Education
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