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Comet Pan-STARRS Offers Rare Viewing Opportunity Before Perihelion

Comet Pan-STARRS Offers Rare Viewing Opportunity Before Perihelion

Comet C/2025 R3 (Pan-STARRS) is currently visible in the early morning sky, offering a rare opportunity for observation before it reaches perihelion on April 19-20. Discovered by the Pan-STARRS survey in Hawaii in September 2025, this long-period comet is expected to brighten rapidly, potentially reaching magnitude +3, making it visible to the naked eye under excellent conditions. However, as it brightens, it will also move closer to the sun in the sky, making it more challenging to observe. The best viewing window is from April 10-20, when the comet is brightening but not yet too deeply embedded in the sun's glare. Observers in the Northern Hemisphere are advised to look for the comet about 90 minutes before sunrise, low in the eastern sky.
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Astronomers Discover New Meteor Shower from Sun-Breaking Asteroid

Astronomers Discover New Meteor Shower from Sun-Breaking Asteroid

A new meteor shower has been discovered, originating from an asteroid that is being broken down by the Sun. This finding was made by astronomers who used camera observations from all-sky networks in Canada, Japan, California, and Europe. The meteor shower is linked to an asteroid that ventured too close to the Sun, causing it to release dust and fragments. This discovery adds to the understanding of how asteroids and comets behave when subjected to solar heat. The study, published in March 2026, identified a cluster of 282 meteors, indicating the presence of a previously hidden asteroid. The meteor shower's parent asteroid remains unidentified, but future missions like NASA's NEO Surveyor, set to launch in 2027, may help locate it.
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Lyrid Meteor Shower to Illuminate April Skies

Lyrid Meteor Shower to Illuminate April Skies

Lyrid Meteor Shower to Illuminate April Skies
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Lyrid Meteor Shower to Illuminate April Skies with Up to 18 Shooting Stars Per Hour

Lyrid Meteor Shower to Illuminate April Skies with Up to 18 Shooting Stars Per Hour

Lyrid Meteor Shower to Illuminate April Skies with Up to 18 Shooting Stars Per Hour
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Comet Tempel 2 Brightens in Scutum, Offering Summer Viewing Opportunity

Comet Tempel 2 Brightens in Scutum, Offering Summer Viewing Opportunity

Comet Tempel 2, also known as Comet 10P/Tempel, is currently visible in the constellation Scutum and is expected to remain observable throughout the summer. The comet, which is approximately 12th magnitude, is brightening and can be seen with a large telescope. It is positioned about 35 degrees above the horizon around 5 A.M. local daylight time. The comet is located just under 2 degrees southwest of the 4th-magnitude star Alpha Scuti. As it brightens, it will become more comparable in visibility to the nearby globular cluster NGC 6712, which is currently around 8th magnitude. Observers are encouraged to compare the comet's appearance to the cluster over time. Additionally, Comet C/2025 R3 (PanSTARRS) is also visible in the early morning sky, having reached mid-5th magnitude, making it potentially visible to the naked eye under optimal conditions.
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Ganymede's Shadow Transit Offers Unique Viewing Opportunity for U.S. Skywatchers

Ganymede's Shadow Transit Offers Unique Viewing Opportunity for U.S. Skywatchers

On April 10, 2026, skywatchers across much of the United States had the opportunity to observe a rare astronomical event as the shadow of Ganymede, one of Jupiter's moons, crossed the planet's cloud tops. This event was visible from the western two-thirds of the U.S., beginning at 12:57 A.M. CDT. Ganymede's shadow took over three hours to traverse Jupiter, providing ample time for observation. The event was part of a series of celestial occurrences, including the visibility of Comet Tempel 2, which is currently brightening in the constellation Scutum.
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NASA Astronauts Conclude Artemis II Mission with Pacific Ocean Splashdown

NASA Astronauts Conclude Artemis II Mission with Pacific Ocean Splashdown

A team of NASA astronauts successfully completed the Artemis II mission by splashing down in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego. This mission marks the first crewed NASA mission to the moon in decades, signifying a significant milestone in space exploration. The astronauts explored the far side of the moon, providing valuable insights and data. Roy Gal, an associate astronomer with the University of Hawai‘i Institute for Astronomy, discussed the mission's achievements and the celestial events that residents in Honolulu and Hilo can anticipate. Upcoming public astronomy events include the Institute for Astronomy Open House at UH Mānoa and AstroDay 2026 at Prince Kūhiō Plaza in Hilo.
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Astronomy Enthusiasts Observe Ganymede's Shadow Transit Across Jupiter

Astronomy Enthusiasts Observe Ganymede's Shadow Transit Across Jupiter

Astronomy enthusiasts in the western United States are witnessing a rare celestial event as Ganymede's shadow transits across Jupiter. This event began at 12:57 A.M. CDT on April 9, 2026, and is visible to observers in the western two-thirds of the U.S. Ganymede, one of Jupiter's moons, casts a shadow that takes over three hours to cross the planet's surface. The event is part of a series of astronomical observations, including the visibility of the spiral galaxy M96 in the constellation Leo. M96, part of the Leo I Group, is a bright spiral galaxy that can be observed with telescopes of varying sizes, revealing its structure and faint outer ring.
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NASA's Artemis 2 Crew Witnesses Rare Solar Eclipse from Beyond the Moon

NASA's Artemis 2 Crew Witnesses Rare Solar Eclipse from Beyond the Moon

During the Artemis 2 mission, astronauts aboard NASA's Orion spacecraft experienced a rare solar eclipse from deep space. The crew, consisting of commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, and mission specialists Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen, observed the moon fully obscuring the sun during their far-side lunar flyby. This event provided a unique opportunity to study the solar corona, the sun's outer atmosphere, which was visible as a bright halo. The eclipse lasted about 53 minutes, allowing for extended observation of the corona and background stars. The footage was captured using Orion's solar array wing cameras, offering a high-contrast view unaffected by Earth's atmosphere.
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Comet MAPS Disintegrates Near the Sun in Cataclysmic Event

Comet MAPS Disintegrates Near the Sun in Cataclysmic Event

Comet MAPS, once anticipated to be a bright spectacle in the night sky, has disintegrated after a close approach to the sun. Known as a Kreutz sungrazer, the comet was expected to pass within 100,000 miles of the sun's surface. However, it underwent a cataclysmic fragmentation just hours before reaching its closest point, known as perihelion. This type of comet is known for its close proximity to the sun, often resulting in their destruction. The disintegration of Comet MAPS was observed using various space telescopes, including the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) and the GOES 19 satellite, which captured the comet's final moments as it brightened and then disappeared, leaving behind a cloud of dust.
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Astronomers Discover 'Forbidden' Giant Planet TOI-5205 b, Challenging Existing Models

Astronomers Discover 'Forbidden' Giant Planet TOI-5205 b, Challenging Existing Models

Astronomers have identified a unique giant planet, TOI-5205 b, which is nearly the size of Jupiter and orbits a small, cool red dwarf star. This discovery, made using the James Webb Space Telescope, challenges current theories about planet formation, as such large planets are not expected to form so close to low-mass stars. The study, led by Caleb Cañas of NASA Goddard Space Flight Center and Shubham Kanodia of Carnegie Science, reveals that TOI-5205 b has a lower concentration of heavy elements in its atmosphere compared to Jupiter and its host star. This finding suggests that the planet's heavy elements may have migrated inward during its formation, resulting in a carbon-rich, oxygen-poor atmosphere.
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NASA's Artemis II Crew Observes Meteorite Impacts on Moon During Historic Flyby

NASA's Artemis II Crew Observes Meteorite Impacts on Moon During Historic Flyby

During a historic lunar flyby, astronauts aboard NASA's Artemis II mission observed meteorite impacts on the moon's surface. This unexpected sighting occurred as the crew, led by mission commander Reid Wiseman, witnessed flashes of light caused by meteorite strikes. The observations were made during a seven-hour observation period, with the crew reporting a total of six impacts. These findings have intrigued scientists, as such phenomena are rarely witnessed. The mission's lunar science lead, Kelsey Young, expressed surprise and excitement over the observations, which were made during a solar eclipse when the moon passed in front of the sun.