Astronomy Picture of the Day ·

Comet R3 PanSTARRS over a Himalayan Valley

The Astronomy Picture of the Day for April 20, 2026 is “Comet R3 PanSTARRS over a Himalayan Valley,” an image. The picture is copyrighted by its creator (Image Credit & Copyright: Basudeb Chakrabarti & Samit Saha). The original explanation runs about 172 words.

A starry sky is seen above two tree-covered mountains that slope up on both sides of the image. In the central valley the head of a comet is seen, with a long tail flowing nearly vertically upward toward the top of the tall frame. Please se
Credit: Image Credit & Copyright: Basudeb Chakrabarti & Samit Saha Copyrighted Shown from science.nasa.gov. Not hosted by OpenOrbit.

From the explanation

“The best way to see comet R3 PanSTARRS’s long tail is with a camera. This week, the recently brightened comet appears in northern skies to the east just before dawn, but is only barely visible to the unaided eye.”

— APOD editors, April 20, 2026

Read the full explanation on science.nasa.gov

At a glance

Date
April 20, 2026
Type
Image
Credit
Credit: Image Credit & Copyright: Basudeb Chakrabarti & Samit Saha
Copyright
Copyrighted by the credited creator. Ask the copyright holder before reusing it.
Explanation length
About 172 words

All of April 2026 → · 2026 by month → · Full archive since 1995 →

Topics in this entry

The SunComets

Topics are matched from words in the title and explanation.

On this day: April 20 in other years

On Amazon

Popular picks for space fans

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Electronics Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition 32GB Read astronomy and space-history books anywhere. View on Amazon → Electronics Bose QuietComfort Wireless Headphones Noise-cancelling headphones for documentaries and launch livestreams. View on Amazon →

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.