Comet C/2025 R3 PANSTARRS: View from California

Comet C/2025 R3 PANSTARRS: View from California

Astrophotographer Dan Bartlett: "So many of the comets I have imaged over the years start out with a green blob of a coma and a short spike-like tail. Over time, and under ideal conditions, a comet will grow loosing their sphericity and the tail grows longer with added details. When I processed this morning's addition of C/2025 R3 PANSTARRS, stacked the comet aligned images, I thought wow, now we have a comet! A nice shrouded envelope has started to form around the green coma and the tail is exhibiting some striking detail."

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.

California is a state in the Western United States that lies on the Pacific Coast. It borders Oregon to the north, Nevada and Arizona to the east, and shares an international border with the Mexican state of Baja California to the south. 

Image Credit: Dan Bartlett 
Location: June Lake California USA
Dan's website: https://app.astrobin.com/i/7eucvg?r=E
Date: April 7, 2026

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