Astronomers recently spotted a fascinating comet called C/2026 A1 (MAPS). Discovered on January 13 by a team in Chile’s Atacama Desert, this comet is about 1.5 miles wide. It may soon approach our sun, coming within approximately 500,000 miles on April 4.
This comet is part of the Kreutz family of “sungrazers,” a group that includes over 3,500 comets. These comets share a history; many are believed to be fragments of a larger comet that shattered near the sun about 1,700 years ago. According to Space.com, they can become incredibly bright as they absorb solar radiation, with some shining brighter than the full moon.
C/2026 A1 will move quickly, racing around the sun at over 2 million mph. The heat and gravity from this close encounter could either transform it into a spectacular sight or tear it apart. Many sungrazers don’t survive this intense solar slingshot. If C/2026 A1 makes it, it could sparkle even in daylight.
Experts are cautious in predicting its brightness. Some suggest it could shine several times brighter than the full moon, potentially visible during the day if it survives. Past comets in this category, like the Great Comet of 1106, were confirmed to have spectacular displays. For instance, Comet Ikeya-Seki became notably bright in 1965, showing what sungrazers are capable of.
In the lead-up to perihelion, the best views of C/2026 A1 will likely be from the Southern Hemisphere, though it can still be spotted low on the southwestern horizon in the Northern Hemisphere just before sunset. For those with telescopes or binoculars, it might be visible even if it disintegrates.
Another exciting comet, C/2025 R3 (PanSTARRS), is expected to make headlines as it approaches its perihelion on April 20. This comet was previously labeled the “Great Comet of 2026” but will now compete with C/2026 A1 for that title. Stay tuned as we wait to see how both comets perform!
For further reading on the topic, visit Sky & Telescope for the latest updates. And here’s an interesting fact: As of 2021, NASA reported nearly 1,500 near-Earth objects were known, with many having the potential to become comets.
