Comet PanSTARRS Will Leave the Solar System Soon -- Here's How To See It Tonight

April is the gift that keeps on giving for astronomy aficionados. Along with sightings of the northern lights, be sure to look up for another dazzling surprise: an ancient comet. Comet C/2025 R3, also known as PanSTARRS, was discovered in our solar system by the Panoramic Survey Telescope and Rapid Response System (PanSTARRS) on Sept. 8, 2025. It is believed to have originated from the Oort Cloud, the thick bubble enveloping the solar system that's composed of "icy, comet-like objects."

By March 2026, it was visible via binoculars. Now, in the United States, sky enthusiasts can view the comet with the naked eye.

Comet PanSTARRS will reach perihelion, the point at which it's closest to the Sun, on Sunday, April 19. It'll be harder to see once the comet is in the Sun's glare, though. After this, the comet will move between the Sun and the Earth, reaching solar conjunction on April 25. Finally, it will fly closest to Earth on April 27.

While you can definitely spot it in the sky tonight, Comet PanSTARRS will be at peak brightness April 17-19. The optimal viewing time is 90 minutes to two hours before sunrise, depending on when sunrise takes place for you. Just keep your eyes on the eastern horizon, and look for PanSTARRS in the constellation Pegasus. Again, you can spot it without any special equipment, but it certainly wouldn't hurt to have a telescope on hand.

Once the comet reaches its closest point to Earth, it'll eventually be ejected from our solar system. Astronomers believe that Comet PanSTARRS orbits the Sun every 170,000 years. So, unless you're immortal and plan to still be kicking then, be sure to get outside and savor this once-in-a-lifetime cosmic event. You can track the comet's movements thanks to NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory.