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Astronomy Picture of the Day - R3 PanSTARRS: An Orion Comet
NASA ^ | 15 May,2026 | Image Credit & Copyright: Chester Hall-Fernandez

Posted on 05/15/2026 1:24:29 PM PDT by MtnClimber

Explanation: Comet R3 PanSTARRS might be best remembered as an Orion comet. A key reason is because Comet C/2025 R3 (PanSTARRS) was near its most spectacular -- in terms of tail visibility -- when passing in front of the iconic constellation. Although rare, other bright comets, too, have ventured across Orion, including Lovejoy in 2015, Hale-Bopp in 1997, and the Great Comet of 1264. Best visible in long duration exposures, the featured image was captured last week from the Craigieburn Mountain Range in New Zealand. Visible in the deep background image are the Orion Nebula, Barnard's Loop, and through R3's tail, the bright star Saiph, the sixth brightest star in the constellation of Orion. Comet R3 PanSTARRS continues to fade as it moves further south, passing into the constellation of the Unicorn (Monoceros) in the next few days.


TOPICS: Astronomy; Astronomy Picture of the Day; Science
KEYWORDS: apod; nasa

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1 posted on 05/15/2026 1:24:29 PM PDT by MtnClimber
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To: MtnClimber

2 posted on 05/15/2026 1:24:51 PM PDT by MtnClimber (For photos of scenery, wildlife and climbing, click on my screen name for my FR home page.)
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To: MtnClimber

3 posted on 05/15/2026 1:25:19 PM PDT by MtnClimber (For photos of scenery, wildlife and climbing, click on my screen name for my FR home page.)
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To: 21stCenturion; 21twelve; 4everontheRight; A Navy Vet; A_perfect_lady; abb; AFB-XYZ; AFPhys; ...
Pinging the APOD list

🪐 🌟 🌌 🍔

4 posted on 05/15/2026 1:26:13 PM PDT by MtnClimber (For photos of scenery, wildlife and climbing, click on my screen name for my FR home page.)
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To: MtnClimber

Wow.


5 posted on 05/15/2026 2:04:19 PM PDT by No name given ( Anonymous is who you’ll know me as )
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To: MtnClimber

Beautiful.


6 posted on 05/15/2026 2:04:27 PM PDT by No name given ( Anonymous is who you’ll know me as )
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To: No name given ; MtnClimber; All
Beautiful.

Could not agree more.

7 posted on 05/15/2026 2:25:07 PM PDT by AFB-XYZ (( We have two options: 1. Stand up, or 2. Bend over))
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