{"id":603068,"date":"2026-04-14T09:00:07","date_gmt":"2026-04-14T09:00:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/603068\/"},"modified":"2026-04-14T09:00:07","modified_gmt":"2026-04-14T09:00:07","slug":"2026-april-14-the-long-wispy-tail-of-comet-r3-panstarrs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/603068\/","title":{"rendered":"2026 April 14 \u2013 The Long Wispy Tail of Comet R3 (PanSTARRS)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Discover the cosmos!<\/a>
\nEach day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer.\n<\/p>\n

2026 April 14
\n

\n\"A<\/a>\n<\/p>\n

Explanation:
\nWhy does Comet R3 (PanSTARRS) have a wispy tail? <\/p>\n

The newest bright member of the inner Solar System,
\nComet C\/2025 R3 (PanSTARRS)<\/a> is already extending an
\nimpressive<\/a> stream of glowing gas.<\/p>\n

This tail starts from an unseen
\ncentral nucleus<\/a> of dirty ice that is likely a few kilometers across.<\/p>\n

The nucleus is warmed by the Sun and
\nemits<\/a> a cloud of neutral gas into a
\ncoma<\/a> that
\nglows light green<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Nuclear gas ionized by
\nenergetic sunlight<\/a> is pushed away from the
\nSun<\/a> by the
\nsolar wind<\/a> into an ion tail that
\nglows light blue<\/a>. <\/p>\n

The wispy nature of the
\nion tail<\/a> is caused by the
\nconstantly changing<\/a> structure of the solar wind. <\/p>\n

Pictured<\/a> from
\nRhode Island<\/a>,
\nUSA<\/a> two days ago,
\nComet R3 (PanSTARRS)<\/a>
\nshows off a many-degree ion tail. <\/p>\n

Comet R3 (PanSTARRS)<\/a> is best seen before dawn from
\nnorthern skies for another 10 days, after which it
\nwill be best visible from southern skies. <\/p>\n