Astronomers may have already spotted the 'Great Comet of 2026' - and it could soon be visible to the naked eye
Yahoo • • science
Key Points:
- A newly discovered comet, C/2025 R3 (PanSTARRS), is expected to become the "Great Comet" of 2026, potentially visible to the naked eye when it reaches its closest approach to Earth in late April.
- Discovered on September 8, 2025, by the Pan-STARRS telescope in Hawaii, the comet is a long-period comet likely originating from the Oort cloud and currently about halfway between Mars and Jupiter.
- C/2025 R3 will reach perihelion on April 20, 2026, coming within 47.4 million miles of the sun, and will pass closest to Earth a week later at 44 million miles, though its brightness remains
