PanSTARRS comet near Earth in April 2026. What to know about R3 visibility

• A newly discovered comet, C/2025 R3 (PanSTARRS), could be the brightest of its kind visible from Earth in 2026.
• The comet will make its closest approach to the sun on April 19 and its closest approach to Earth on April 27.
• It will be visible in the Northern Hemisphere before sunrise throughout April, ideally with binoculars or a telescope.
• Astronomers believe the ancient comet originates from the Oort Cloud at the edge of our solar system.

An incoming comet is already making waves as potentially the brightest of its kind that could be visible from Earth in 2026.

The comet, formally known as C/2025 R3 (PanSTARRS,) has been brightening in the night sky in April as it gets closer and closer to Earth and the sun. That makes the comet a buzzworthy sky watching event this month for stargazers.

But you'll have to be an early riser if you want to see the cosmic show.

Here's everything to know.

What are comets?

Comets are distinct cosmic objects from asteroids, which are made up of rocky material long left over from our solar system's formation. Most asteroids reside in the main asteroid belt between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter.

Comets, on the other hand, are still active balls of frozen gases, rock and dust that orbit the sun. As comets get closer to the sun, they heat up and start to vaporize, spewing out dust and gases.

What is comet C/2025 R3 (PanSTARRS?)

A newly discovered comet, comet C/2025 R3 (PanSTARRS,) appears to have been traveling in Earth's solar system since September. The ancient comet is believed to orbit the sun approximately every 170,000 years and was first spotted in September 2025 by the Pan-STARRS survey in Hawaii.

Some astronomers have suggested that it originates from the Oort Cloud, a thick bubble around the edges of our solar system, according to reporting from Forbes and Space.com.

Comet visible in April may be brightest of 2026

Astronomers have noted that comet C/2025 R3, which has been slowly brightening and extending a tail since its discovery, is likely to put on its best show in April as it passes closest to both the sun and Earth, according to NASA's Astronomy Picture of the Day website.

That closest approach to the sun, a moment known as perihelion, is slated to happen Sunday, April 19. The comet will then have its closest approach April 27 with Earth, coming within 44 million miles of our planet – or about half the distance to the sun, NASA said in its monthly skywatching guide.

NASA additionally noted that Friday, April 17, might be your best chance to see the comet.

PanSTARRS visibility in 2026. When, how to see comet

Comet C/2025 R3 (PanSTARRS) is expected to remain visible throughout much of April before sunrise in the Northern Hemisphere, which includes the United States.

While it may be visible to the unaided eye, you'll have the best luck in spotting it with a telescope or binoculars, according to astronomy website EarthSky.org.

The comet will be visible in the eastern sky in the constellations Pegasus and above Pisces, Chelsea Gohd, a science communicator at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California, explained in a video.

For the best viewing experience, scan the lower portion of the eastern sky approximately 90 minutes to two hours before sunrise.

Where is PanSTARRS comet now? How to track C/2025 R3

You can keep up to date with the comet's movements where it's catalogued by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California.

Contributing: Janet Loehrke, USA TODAY

Eric Lagatta is the Space Connect reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at [email protected]