This celestial image reveals Comet C/2025 R3 (PANSTARRS) and its faint vertical tail

iss074e0480485 (April 17, 2026) --- This celestial image, taken moments before an orbital sunrise, reveals more than an airglow crowning Earth’s horizon—it also captures Comet C/2025 R3 (PANSTARRS) and its faint vertical tail (top center) at a distance of about 50 million miles from our planet. The International Space Station was orbiting 259 miles above the Pacific Ocean at approximately 3:50 a.m. local time when this photograph was taken.