Comet Watch: C/2025 R3 (PANSTARRS)

Join us at the Heide Observatory for a Comet Watch as we observe Comet C/2025 R3 (PANSTARRS), a distant icy visitor from the outer solar system making a rare pass through the inner night sky. During this guided observing session, guests will learn what comets are made of, where they come from, and why their brightness and visibility can change rapidly from night to night. To maximize our viewing opportunity, we will take a short guided walk to the upper prairie, where we will watch for the comet low in the western sky shortly after sunset as it sets. This portion of the event will focus on naked-eye and binocular-style observing, as the comet’s low altitude and wide field make it better suited to broad sky viewing rather than high-magnification telescope use. After the comet sets, guests will return to the observatory for views through our 17-inch telescope, exploring some of the best deep-sky objects visible that evening and enjoying a guided tour of the stars overhead. Because comets are dynamic and unpredictable, the exact appearance of C/2025 R3 may evolve leading up to the event, making each viewing a unique snapshot in time of an object billions of years old.