A comet discovered just weeks ago could put on a spectacular show for skywatchers this spring, potentially becoming bright enough to see in broad daylight—a rare celestial phenomenon that occurs only a few times per century.
Comet C/2025 R3 (PanSTARRS) was identified in January 2025 by the Panoramic Survey Telescope and Rapid Response System in Hawaii. Initial observations suggested a promising but unremarkable object. However, as astronomers refined the comet's orbit and analyzed its brightness trajectory, excitement has been building: this visitor from the outer solar system could rival or exceed the spectacular Comet NEOWISE of 2020.
The comet is currently brightening rapidly as it approaches the Sun, scheduled to reach perihelion—its closest approach to the Sun—on April 14, 2026. If current brightness predictions hold, the comet could reach magnitude -2 to -3, making it brighter than any star in the night sky and potentially visible to the naked eye even during daylight hours.
"This is shaping up to be the astronomical event of the year," says Dr. Emily Lakdawalla, planetary geologist and science communicator. "Comets this bright are rare treats. The last truly spectacular daytime-visible comet was Comet McNaught in 2007, and before that, Hale-Bopp in 1997."
Comets brighten dramatically when they approach the Sun because solar heat vaporizes their icy surfaces, releasing gas and dust that form the characteristic glowing coma and tail. C/2025 R3 appears to be an unusually active comet with a volatile-rich composition, suggesting it may produce an impressive display as it heats up.
The best viewing opportunities will come in mid-to-late April. Northern Hemisphere observers should look toward the western horizon just after sunset, where the comet will appear low in the sky. By late April, it will become visible in the as it moves away from the Sun.
