Great Comet of 2026 spotted — when and how you could see it with your naked eye this April

Astronomers are closely observing Comet C/2025 R3 (PanSTARRS), a recently detected object that could get the nickname “Great Comet of 2026.” Discovered in September 2025, the comet is anticipated to be near its closest point to the Sun on April 20, 2026, followed by its nearest position to Earth on April 27. At a distance of almost 44 million miles, it may become noticeable to the naked eye under dark skies.