We’re almost at the exciting final act of the saga featuring Comet C/2026 A1 (MAPS). This week is crucial as the comet readies for its close encounter with the sun this weekend.
Discovered on January 13, 2026, by a team of amateur astronomers, Comet MAPS carries the initials of its discoverers: Alain Maury, Georges Attard, Daniel Parrott, and Florian Signoret. They spotted it using an 11-inch telescope at the AMACS1 observatory in Chile’s Atacama Desert. MAPS is particularly noteworthy as it belongs to a group known as Kreutz sungrazers, renowned for their dramatic journeys close to the sun.
The name Kreutz comes from 19th-century astronomer Heinrich Kreutz, who linked these comets to a common origin. Historical records suggest all Kreutz comets trace back to a larger ancient comet mentioned by Aristotle in 371 BC. Recent studies indicate that Comet MAPS might have broken off from another comet analyzed by historian Ammianus Marcellinus in 363 AD.
This Saturday, April 4, marks MAPS’ closest approach to the sun, a moment known as perihelion. According to the Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams, the comet will buzz just 101,100 miles (162,700 km) above the solar surface at 10:24 a.m. EDT (1424 GMT). At that moment, it’ll be traveling at a breakneck speed of 322 miles (518 km) per second.
There’s buzz about whether we might see MAPS brighten up, potentially even visible during the day. But peering too closely while it’s near the sun can be dangerous. Direct sunlight can harm the eyes, and neither sunglasses nor binoculars provide adequate protection. It’s safer to track its journey remotely, using tools like the SOHO’s LASCO camera to view images and videos of the comet from afar.
From April 2 at 8:00 a.m. EDT until April 6 at 1:00 a.m. EDT, watchers can spot MAPS as it crosses the SOHO imagery. There will be a brief moment during perihelion when it appears to swing behind the sun before re-emerging.
Social media trends have people wondering whether MAPS will put on a grand display. Observers are speculating whether it could become a stunning evening sight or if it might fade away. Some have even dubbed it “The Great Easter Comet of 2026.”
Three scenarios could unfold:
1. Disintegration at perihelion: Like Comet ISON, which fell apart before its close sun approach in 2013, MAPS might vanquish under intense solar heat and pull, leaving no remnant behind.
2. Disintegration after perihelion: Similar to the Great Southern Comet of 1887, MAPS could glide past the sun intact but then fragment shortly after, leaving only a faint tail behind.
3. Survival and a spectacular show: If it makes it through perihelion, it might dazzle us like the Great Comet of 1965, also a Kreutz comet that shone brilliantly next to the sun.
One vital point is the size of Comet MAPS’ nucleus. Current research indicated it to be about 0.2 miles (0.4 km) wide, much smaller than its illustrious predecessors. This diminutive size raises the likelihood of disintegration before or soon after perihelion, as smaller comet nuclei often struggle against the sun’s forces.
For now, if the nucleus breaks apart, we might witness nothing more than a faint tail stretching across the western twilight sky. Those eager to catch a glimpse should gaze at that part of the sky approximately 45 minutes after sunset from April 8 to 14, potentially using binoculars to spot the fading traces of MAPS.
Ultimately, as the celebrated astronomer David Levy puts it, “Comets are like cats: they have tails, and they do precisely what they want!” Keep an eye out for late-breaking news about Comet MAPS.
