01/04/2026
๐๐ข๐ ๐๐ง ๐/๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ฑ ๐ฅ๐ฏ ๐ฃ๐๐ก๐ฆ๐ง๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฆ โ๏ธ
11th observed comet unlocked ๐๐๐ผ
Brightening ahead of expectations, for its own show in April.
Discovered by the Pan-STARRS all-sky survey on the night of September 8, 2025, R3 Pan-STARRS is on a ~170,000 year orbit around the Sun inbound, destined for ejection from the solar system outbound. The comet was found just in time to make our list of top comets for 2026.
Currently a binocular comet at around 6 magnitude, it may top out at +0.5 magnitude on closest Earth approach a week after perihelion on April 26 but itโs also just 6 degrees from the Sun at the time
๐ถ๐บ/๐ถ๐ธ/๐ธ๐ถ๐ธ๐ผ
๐ถ๐บ:๐บ๐ถ๐๐
๐ณ๐๐๐๐, ๐ฟ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐