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 20
   [2]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 see the explanation for more detailed
                                information.

                 Comet R3 PanSTARRS over a Himalayan Valley
      Image Credit & Copyright: [3]Basudeb Chakrabarti & [4]Samit Saha

   Explanation: The best way to see comet R3 PanSTARRS’s long tail is with
   a camera. This week, the [5]recently brightened comet appears in
   northern skies to the east just before dawn, but is only barely visible
   to the unaided eye. The many-degree [6]ion tail captured on [7]long
   duration camera exposures is not unusual for a comet - it is primarily
   due to the [8]Earth's nearly sideways view of the tail as it points
   away from the Sun. In the [9]featured image taken last week, Comet
   [10]C/2025 R3 (PanSTARRS) showed off its flowing tail through a valley
   between two peaks in the [11]Himalayan mountains of [12]India.   The
   comet passed its closest to [13]the Sun yesterday. As it nears its
   closest approach to Earth next week, a [14]bushy [15]dust tail may
   become visible. [16]The comet is slowly moving out of northern skies
   and by the end of the month [17]will be visible after sunset in
   southern skies as it fades and [18]leaves our [19]Solar System.

               Growing Gallery: [20]Comet R3 PanSTARRS in 2026
                   Tomorrow's picture: different mountains
     __________________________________________________________________

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    Authors & editors: [32]Robert Nemiroff ([33]MTU) & [34]Jerry Bonnell
                                 ([35]UMCP)
          NASA Official: Amber Straughn [36]Specific rights apply.
            [37]NASA Web Privacy, [38]Accessibility, [39]Notices;
                A service of: [40]ASD at [41]NASA / [42]GSFC,
                         [43]NASA Science Activation
                           & [44]Michigan Tech. U.

References

   1. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html
   2. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/image/2604/ValleyComet_Chakrabarti_3900.jpg
   3. https://www.instagram.com/basudebchakrabarti_photography/
   4. https://www.instagram.com/raj_samit
   5. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap260412.html
   6. https://astronomy.swin.edu.au/cosmos/c/Cometary+Gas+Tail
   7. https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/funny-cat-tired-boring-lying-260nw-1447517609.jpg
   8. https://science.nasa.gov/earth/facts/
   9. https://www.instagram.com/p/DXP2xpPkwxm/
  10. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C/2025_R3_(PanSTARRS)
  11. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Himalayas
  12. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/India
  13. https://science.nasa.gov/sun/
  14. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap220408.html
  15. https://spaceplace.nasa.gov/comets/en/anatomy-of-a-comet.en.jpg
  16. https://theskylive.com/c2025r3-info
  17. https://www.universetoday.com/articles/comet-r3-panstarrs-at-perihelion
  18. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C/2025_R3_(PanSTARRS)#Follow-up_observations
  19. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap250914.html
  20. https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.946613941400517
  21. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap260419.html
  22. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html
  23. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/apsubmit2015.html
  24. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/aptree.html
  25. https://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/apod/apod_search
  26. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/calendar/allyears.html
  27. https://apod.com/feed.rss
  28. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/edlinks.html
  29. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html
  30. https://asterisk.apod.com/discuss_apod.php?date=260420
  31. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap260421.html
  32. http://www.phy.mtu.edu/faculty/Nemiroff.html
  33. http://www.phy.mtu.edu/
  34. https://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/htmltest/jbonnell/www/bonnell.html
  35. http://www.astro.umd.edu/
  36. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html#srapply
  37. https://www.nasa.gov/about/highlights/HP_Privacy.html
  38. https://www.nasa.gov/general/accessibility/
  39. https://www.nasa.gov/privacy/
  40. https://astrophysics.gsfc.nasa.gov/
  41. https://www.nasa.gov/
  42. https://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/
  43. https://science.nasa.gov/learners
  44. http://www.mtu.edu/