Astronomy Picture of the Day

   [1]Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our
      fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation
                    written by a professional astronomer.

                                2026 April 14
    [2]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 information.

                 The Long Wispy Tail of Comet R3 (PanSTARRS)
                 Image Credit & Copyright: [3]Haythem Hamdi

   Explanation: Why does Comet R3 (PanSTARRS) have a wispy tail? The
   newest bright member of the inner Solar System, [4]Comet C/2025 R3
   (PanSTARRS) is already extending an [5]impressive stream of glowing
   gas. This tail starts from an unseen [6]central nucleus of dirty ice
   that is likely a few kilometers across. The nucleus is warmed by the
   Sun and [7]emits a cloud of neutral gas into a [8]coma that [9]glows
   light green. Nuclear gas ionized by [10]energetic sunlight is pushed
   away from the [11]Sun by the [12]solar wind into an ion tail that
   [13]glows light blue. The wispy nature of the [14]ion tail is caused by
   the [15]constantly changing structure of the solar wind. [16]Pictured
   from [17]Rhode Island, [18]USA two days ago, [19]Comet R3 (PanSTARRS)
   shows off a many-degree ion tail. [20]Comet R3 (PanSTARRS) is best seen
   before dawn from northern skies for another 10 days, after which it
   will be best visible from southern skies.

                    Growing Gallery: [21]Comet R3 in 2026
                       Tomorrow's picture: open space
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    Authors & editors: [33]Robert Nemiroff ([34]MTU) & [35]Jerry Bonnell
                                 ([36]UMCP)
          NASA Official: Amber Straughn [37]Specific rights apply.
            [38]NASA Web Privacy, [39]Accessibility, [40]Notices;
                A service of: [41]ASD at [42]NASA / [43]GSFC,
                         [44]NASA Science Activation
                           & [45]Michigan Tech. U.

References

   1. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html
   2. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/image/2604/CometR3_Hamdi_2710.jpg
   3. https://www.instagram.com/hamdi_astrophotography/
   4. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C/2025_R3_(PanSTARRS)
   5. https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/surprised-cat-amazement-open-mouth-260nw-2259711007.jpg
   6. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap251019.html
   7. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap151118.html
   8. https://spaceplace.nasa.gov/comets/en/anatomy-of-a-comet.en.jpg
   9. https://www.science.org/content/article/why-do-some-comets-glow-green
  10. https://science.nasa.gov/ems/10_ultravioletwaves/
  11. https://science.nasa.gov/sun/
  12. https://science.nasa.gov/sun/what-is-the-solar-wind/
  13. https://astronomy.stackexchange.com/questions/36907/blue-color-of-ion-plasma-comet-tails
  14. http://www2.ess.ucla.edu/~jewitt/tail.html
  15. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap220110.html
  16. https://www.instagram.com/p/DXE-wbzFhgo/
  17. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhode_Island
  18. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States
  19. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap260412.html
  20. https://theskylive.com/c2025r3-info
  21. https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.946613941400517&type=3
  22. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap260413.html
  23. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html
  24. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/apsubmit2015.html
  25. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/aptree.html
  26. https://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/apod/apod_search
  27. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/calendar/allyears.html
  28. https://apod.com/feed.rss
  29. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/edlinks.html
  30. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html
  31. https://asterisk.apod.com/discuss_apod.php?date=260414
  32. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap260415.html
  33. http://www.phy.mtu.edu/faculty/Nemiroff.html
  34. http://www.phy.mtu.edu/
  35. https://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/htmltest/jbonnell/www/bonnell.html
  36. http://www.astro.umd.edu/
  37. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html#srapply
  38. https://www.nasa.gov/about/highlights/HP_Privacy.html
  39. https://www.nasa.gov/general/accessibility/
  40. https://www.nasa.gov/privacy/
  41. https://astrophysics.gsfc.nasa.gov/
  42. https://www.nasa.gov/
  43. https://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/
  44. https://science.nasa.gov/learners
  45. http://www.mtu.edu/