Comet C/2025 R3 (PanSTARRS)—April 2026

/ Add comment
Comet C/2025 R3 (PanSTARRS) on 17 April 2026. Photographed from the west side of Mormon Lake. Nikon D850, 35mm, ƒ/1.8, ISO 200, 2x120 seconds (composite of two images: one for the foreground; one for the sky).

I was very happy to be able to see and to photograph Comet C/2025 R3 (PanSTARRS) during a two-week period in the middle of April. Later in the month it became more difficult to see the comet in the morning twilight. After it made its closest approach to the Sun it flipped into the evening sky but by that time it was best seen from the Southern Hemisphere. Those of us in the Northern Hemisphere had already had a great show from this comet.

From Wikipedia:

C/2025 R3 (PanSTARRS) is a hyperbolic Oort cloud comet and passed perihelion on 19 April 2026 when it was 75 million km from the Sun. Around perihelion it reached about an apparent magnitude of +3. The comet was discovered by PanSTARRS in images obtained on 8 September 2025. By 20 March 2026 it became visible in 10×50 binoculars. As of May, the comet has faded, moved into the southern skies, and will require binoculars or a camera to locate.

I photographed the comet from two locations: the west side of Mormon Lake in the small pullout; and from Ashurst Lake overlooking the water. I was hoping for some reflections of the comet in the lake waters (as I had from Comet C/2023 A3) but was not successful.

Here are several photographs of Comet C/2025 R3 (PanSTARRS) from April 2026.

Comet C/2025 R3 (PanSTARRS) on 09 April 2026. Photographed from the west side of Mormon Lake. Nikon D850, 80mm, ƒ/4.0, ISO 400, 8x60 seconds. Images stacked with Siril.
Comet C/2025 R3 (PanSTARRS) on 09 April 2026. Photographed from the west side of Mormon Lake. Nikon D850, 80mm, ƒ/4.0, ISO 400, 8×60 seconds. Images stacked with Siril.
Comet C/2025 R3 (PanSTARRS) on 12 April 2026. Photographed from Ashurst Lake. Nikon D850, 35mm, ƒ/1.8, ISO 100, 2x240 seconds (composite of two images: one for the foreground; one for the sky).
Comet C/2025 R3 (PanSTARRS) on 12 April 2026. Photographed from Ashurst Lake. Nikon D850, 35mm, ƒ/1.8, ISO 100, 2×240 seconds (composite of two images: one for the foreground; one for the sky).
Comet C/2025 R3 (PanSTARRS) on 15 April 2026. Nikon D850, 180mm, ƒ/4.0, ISO 800, 16x120 seconds. Stacked with Siril.
Comet C/2025 R3 (PanSTARRS) on 15 April 2026. Nikon D850, 180mm, ƒ/4.0, ISO 800, 16×120 seconds. Stacked with Siril.
Comet C/2025 R3 (PanSTARRS) on 15 April 2026. Nikon D850, 180mm, ƒ/4.0, ISO 800, 16x120 seconds. Stacked with Siril then inverted into a black-and-white negative image.
Comet C/2025 R3 (PanSTARRS) on 15 April 2026. Nikon D850, 180mm, ƒ/4.0, ISO 800, 16×120 seconds. Stacked with Siril then inverted into a black-and-white negative image.
Comet C/2025 R3 (PanSTARRS) on 15 April 2026. Nikon D850, 180mm, ƒ/4.0, ISO 800, 16x120 seconds. Stacked with Siril then star removal using StarNet software.
Comet C/2025 R3 (PanSTARRS) on 15 April 2026. Nikon D850, 180mm, ƒ/4.0, ISO 800, 16×120 seconds. Stacked with Siril then star removal using StarNet software.
Comet C/2025 R3 (PanSTARRS) on 17 April 2026. Photographed from the west side of Mormon Lake. Nikon D850, 35mm, ƒ/1.8, ISO 200, 2x120 seconds (composite of two images: one for the foreground; one for the sky).
Comet C/2025 R3 (PanSTARRS) on 17 April 2026. Photographed from the west side of Mormon Lake. Nikon D850, 35mm, ƒ/1.8, ISO 200, 2×120 seconds (composite of two images: one for the foreground; one for the sky).

In July/August, Comet 10P/Tempel 2 should be a good camera target although it is not expected to reach unaided eye brightness.

Trail Running in April

The good news was precipitation was slightly above normal in April (measured: 1.02″; normal: 0.89″) although it mostly fell as rain and not as snow (measured: 0.3″; normal: 5.0″). The moisture helped keep the trails in great shape. Only towards the end of the month did the trails start to become dusty.

Kelly Canyon

This is an out-and-back that can start from either the top or bottom of the canyon. We chose to start low because there would be water at the confluence of Kelly Canyon and Pumphouse Wash and I wanted to visit it earlier in the day. Good choice.

Early morning light at the confluence of Kelly Canyon and Pumphouse Wash.
Early morning light at the confluence of Kelly Canyon and Pumphouse Wash.
Mid-morning light at the confluence of Kelly Canyon and Pumphouse Wash.
Mid-morning light at the confluence of Kelly Canyon and Pumphouse Wash.
Some wildflowers (valerian) to gaze at as we run the canyon.
Some wildflowers (valerian) to gaze at as we run the canyon.
Running up the canyon.
Running up the canyon.
Sometimes you run; sometimes you walk.
Sometimes you run; sometimes you walk.

Continue reading →

Trail Running in March

The warm and dry winter continued into March with some extraordinary high temperature records all across the west in the latter part of the month. Consequently, we were able to run in Flagstaff on dry trails as well as in Sedona. In fact, it was so warm in Sedona on some of these runs that we started our runs earlier in the morning to avoid the heat. Cooler temperatures and rain finally arrived on the last day of the month.

Earls Loop

This is mostly an out-and-back with a loop at the far end (“lollipop loop”) and is not a well-known trail. That’s because the trail does not appear on modern maps. It still gets some regular traffic from hikers, runners, and mountain bikers (even though some of it traverses a wilderness area).

A runner on the Earl's Loop Trail in the Red Rock-Secret Mountain Wilderness.
A runner on the Earl’s Loop Trail in the Red Rock-Secret Mountain Wilderness.
Water-worn channels in the sandstone of Dry Creek.
Water-worn channels in the sandstone of Dry Creek.
Posing at the far point of the Earl's Loop trail.
Posing at the far point of the Earl’s Loop trail.
Wildflowers on the Earl's Loop Trail.
Wildflowers on the Earl’s Loop Trail.

Continue reading →

Zodiacal Light–March 2026

With exceptionally clear skies and no Moon it was a good time to capture images of the zodiacal light. Here is what Wikipedia has to say about this astronomical phenomenon.

Zodiacal light is a faint, roughly triangular, diffuse white glow seen in the night sky that appears to extend up from the vicinity of the Sun along the ecliptic or zodiac. It is best seen just after sunset and before sunrise in spring and autumn when the zodiac is at a steep angle to the horizon. Caused by sunlight scattered by space dust in the zodiacal cloud, it is so faint that either moonlight or light pollution renders it invisible.

Zodiacal light in the western sky with faint reflections in Upper Lake Mary.
Zodiacal light in the western sky with faint reflections in Upper Lake Mary.

The image shows the cone of light extending upward from the western horizon. In the upper portion is the Pleiades star cluster and Andromeda Galaxy (M31) is visible as a faint smudge on the right. The zodiacal light is also faintly reflected in the still waters of Upper Lake Mary near Flagstaff, Arizona.

Unedited version of the previous image showing satellite tracks.Zodiacal light in the western sky with faint reflections in Upper Lake Mary.
Unedited version of the previous image showing satellite tracks. Zodiacal light in the western sky with faint reflections in Upper Lake Mary.
Zodiacal light from 2014--with no satellite tracks.
Zodiacal light from 2014–with no satellite tracks.

But this is an edited image because the original was full of satellite tracks (and a few aircraft tracks). The second image is the unedited version. For comparison, an image of the zodiacal light taken in 2014 (before Starlink) shows no satellite tracks at all.

Nikon D850, Tamron 17–35mm @ 17mm, ƒ/2.8, ISO 800, 10 seconds.

Lunar Eclipse—03 March 2026

A total lunar eclipse occurred on March 3, 2026, and was visible across North America. Fortunately, the skies were clear over northern Arizona allowing us to watch the entire event. The timing wasn’t optimal as it occurred in the early morning hours before sunrise. On the other hand, the timing kept the crowds away.

A composite of five images during the total lunar eclipse of March 03, 2026. The circle marks the size of Earth's umbral shadow.
A composite of five images during the total lunar eclipse of March 03, 2026. The circle marks the size of Earth’s umbral shadow.
Schematic of the different phases and times during the total lunar eclipse. The image is rotated 90°.
Schematic of the different phases and times during the total lunar eclipse. The image is rotated 90°.

From Wikipedia:

A lunar eclipse occurs when the Moon moves into the Earth’s shadow, causing the Moon to be darkened. A total lunar eclipse occurs when the Moon’s near side entirely passes into the Earth’s umbral shadow. A lunar eclipse may be viewed from anywhere on the night side of Earth. A total lunar eclipse can last up to nearly two hours…

I decided to photograph the eclipse using a star tracker so that the camera would follow the stars across the sky as the event unfolded. Because the Moon is moving from west-to-east as it moves around Earth the lunar disk would move across the image. After the event, I could stack multiple images showing the different phases of the eclipse and the Moon’s location relative to the umbral shadow.

The next total lunar eclipse visible from Arizona will occur June 25, 202–but the eclipse will already be in progress when the Moon rises above the eastern horizon. Maximum totality should be visible although it will still be Nautical Twilight and the eastern sky should be dark enough to see the lunar disk. A good idea for the 2029 eclipse will be line up the Moon with some interesting foregrounds. I think I have plenty of time to plan this.