Astronomy Picture of the Day ·

The Long Wispy Tail of Comet R3 (PanSTARRS)

The Astronomy Picture of the Day for April 14, 2026 is “The Long Wispy Tail of Comet R3 (PanSTARRS),” an image. The picture is copyrighted by its creator (Image Credit & Copyright: Haythem Hamdi). The original explanation runs about 163 words.

A star field surrounds a bright comet with a long tail. The green coma of the comet is seen on the lower left, while the light blue ion tail extends to the upper right and shows wavey structure. Please see the explanation for more detailed
Credit: Image Credit & Copyright: Haythem Hamdi Copyrighted Shown from science.nasa.gov. Not hosted by OpenOrbit.

From the explanation

“Why does Comet R3 (PanSTARRS) have a wispy tail? The newest bright member of the inner Solar System, Comet C/2025 R3 (PanSTARRS) is already extending an impressive stream of glowing gas.”

— APOD editors, April 14, 2026

Read the full explanation on science.nasa.gov

At a glance

Date
April 14, 2026
Type
Image
Credit
Credit: Image Credit & Copyright: Haythem Hamdi
Copyright
Copyrighted by the credited creator. Ask the copyright holder before reusing it.
Explanation length
About 163 words

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Source

Copy taken Oct 28, 2026, 2:39 AM EDT. The image and explanation belong to their creators. OpenOrbit is not affiliated with or endorsed by NASA.