A rare Oort Cloud comet, C/2025 R3 PanSTARRS, is visible in New Zealand skies for the next week.
After that, it will leave the inner solar system for about 170,000 years. Te Whatu Stardome astronomer Josh Aoraki told RNZ that people across the country can see the comet about an hour after sunset.
He advised viewers to find an unobstructed view of the western horizon, with the West Coast offering the best opportunity.
The comet, discovered in September 2025, has an orbital period of around 170,000 years. It passed its closest approach to the Sun, known as perihelion, on April 19, 2026, and is now moving away. While it is gradually fading, it remains visible in the evening sky for the next few days.
Astronomers suggest using binoculars or small telescopes in areas with light pollution, as the comet may be faint to the naked eye. It is expected to remain visible until the end of the week before leaving the solar system for millennia.
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The Oort Cloud, where this comet originates, is a vast region of icy objects located 2,000–100,000 AU from the Sun, beyond the Kuiper Belt. C/2025 R3 PanSTARRS is a rare visitor, providing a once-in-a-lifetime viewing opportunity for those in the Southern Hemisphere.
