Comet C/2025 R3 Panstarrs: View from Austria

Comet C/2025 R3 Panstarrs: View from Austria

Astrophotographers Michael Jaeger & Gerald Rhemann: "One week after the full Moon in April, Comet C/2025 R3 Panstarrs is expected to become visible to the naked eye. On March 23, it reached a magnitude of 7.8 for the first time, and its brightness has increased significantly in recent weeks. It will not reach its perihelion—nor its closest approach to Earth—for another month."

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.

Image Credit: Michael Jaeger, Gerald Rhemann

Image Details: 11"RASA and a color CMOS camera
Location: Weißenkirchen, Austria

Text Credit: Spaceweather[dot]com
Image Date: March 23, 2026

#NASA #Astronomy #Space #Science #Comets #CometC2025R3Panstarrs #SolarSystem #Astrophotography #MichaelJaeger #GeraldRhemann #Astrophotographers #Weißenkirchen #Austria #Europe #STEM #Education