tech
Rare comet to flash through New Zealand skies
Over the next two weeks stargazers have a chance to spot the blue-green orb and smudgy tail of comet known as C/2025 R3 PanSTARRS
TL;DR
- Comet C/2025 R3 PanSTARRS is visible in southern skies for the next two weeks.
- It originated in the Oort Cloud and takes approximately 170,000 years to orbit the sun.
- Binoculars, telescopes, or cameras are needed to view the comet, which has a blue-green orb and smudgy tail.
- The comet will gradually decrease in brightness over the two weeks.
- Viewers should look at the western horizon just after sunset, ideally in the hour after dark.
- Its future trajectory is uncertain, with potential for ejection from the solar system.
- The comet was discovered in 2025.