Comet C/2025 R3 may reach rare brightness levels, offering a spectacular (and unpredictable) show before sunrise. Published on April 2, 2026 Comet C/2025 A6 Lemmon in the sky over Fujin City, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province on October 20, 2025. Credit: Qu Yubao/Getty Images Dark sky enthusiasts may want to set aside a little time in April for a celestial wildcard: a newly-discovered comet that could become one of the brightest of 2026. Known officially as Comet C/2025 R3 (PanSTARRS), this long-period comet was spotted in September and is currently racing through the inner solar system toward a close encounter with the sun. For travelers, the most promising viewing window runs from mid-April through early May, with an added advantage on the nights around the April 17 new moon when the skies will be at their darkest. How bright Comet R3 ultimately becomes is still an open question.…