A newly discovered comet may soon shine brightly in our skies. Comet C/2026 A1 (MAPS), identified on January 13 in the Atacama Desert, will pass within 120.000 km of the Sun in early April and may become visible even in broad daylight.
Comet C/2026 A1 (MAPS) is part of the Kreutz group of sungrazing comets and may put on a spectacular show in early April.
Comet C/2026 A1 (MAPS) was spotted by a team of four amateur astronomers using a remotely operated telescope in the Atacama Desert. Soon after identification, it became clear that the object belongs to the Kreutz sungrazing comet group.
This group includes some of the brightest and most spectacular comets ever observed. Comet MAPS moves in an extremely elongated orbit around the Sun and is approaching a decisive encounter with the star.
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In early April, the comet will pass just 120.000 km from the sun’s surface. If it survives perihelion, it could become a significant spectacle in the night sky, possibly visible even during the day.
However, there is a possibility that the comet will disintegrate before reaching its maximum brightness. The expectation depends directly on its survival during the close approach to the sun.
Fragments of a megacomet over 100 km in diameter gave rise to the sungrazing comets observed over the past 2.000 years.
Over the past 2.000 years, several spectacular comets have appeared seemingly out of nowhere, shining brightly near the Sun. Some have reached sufficient luminosity to be seen in broad daylight.
Historically, the brightest comets are known as Great Comets. The Great Comet of 1965, C/1965 S1 Ikeya-Seki, was the brightest of the 20th century. Discovered a month before its closest approach to the Sun, it reached a brightness equivalent to that of the full moon.
The Great Comet of 1882, C/1882 R1, was even more intense. At its peak, it became a hundred times brighter than the full moon and remained visible for several months.
Studies indicate that these comets belong to the Kreutz family of sungrazing comets and share a common origin. Between the 3rd and 4th centuries BC, a cometary nucleus over 100 km in diameter approached the Sun dangerously closely.
After this close approach, far from the star, the large comet split into two main fragments and released multiple smaller pieces. In the 3rd century AD, these fragments returned on their long solar orbit.
Reports from 363 AD suggest the simultaneous presence of several comets visible to the naked eye during the day. Later, in the 11th century, two large fragments became known as the Great Comets of 1106 and 1138.
These fragments also fragmented again. The products of these successive divisions have been observed as a continuous series of comets over the last two centuries.
Recent observations and record distance reinforce expectations surrounding comet MAPS.
Currently, the Kreutz family of sungrazing comets includes numerous smaller fragments that disintegrate as they approach the Sun, as well as larger fragments capable of generating remarkable events.
NASA’s Solar and Heliospheric Observatory, SOHO, has detected thousands of fragments of the Kreutz group over the years. Many are small icebergs only a few meters or tens of meters in diameter.
The largest and most recent Kreutz comet was observed in 2011. Discovered by Terry Lovejoy, the object narrowly survived the solar transit and reached a brightness comparable to that of the planet. Venus at the end of December of that year.
Predictions by astronomer Zdeněk Sekanina indicate the possibility of two large sungrazing celestial bodies in the coming decades, one of which could appear within the next two years.
Comet C/2026 A1 (MAPS) already holds a record. At the time of its discovery, it was farther from the Sun than any other newly identified sungrazing comet up to that point.
The previous record holder was Ikeya-Seki in 1965. However, technological advancements over the last seven decades make it unlikely that the nucleus of comet MAPS will be as large as it was during that event.
Still, early detection may indicate that the fragment is relatively large or is undergoing significant activity. Recent observations have recorded a steady increase in brightness, reinforcing the hypothesis of a larger fragment.
What might happen at perihelion and how can the comet be observed?
It is still too early to determine the comet’s definitive behavior at perihelion. If it survives its closest approach to the sun, it could provide a significant event in early or mid-April.
If it remains intact, there is a possibility that it will reach sufficient brightness for daytime visibility. Even if it does not reach that level, the SOHO probe should provide detailed images of its passage.
In the days following perihelion, the comet will enter the night sky. Due to its typical Kreutz orbit, it will be more easily observed from the southern hemisphere.
If it survives to perihelion and fragments while crossing the solar region, a sudden and unexpected increase in brightness could occur. A late fragmentation could represent the best scenario for a spectacular display.
For now, we can only follow the comet’s development and observe its evolution as it approaches the Sun. The outcome will depend on its resistance to the intense solar approach and its behavior during perihelion, a crucial moment in determining its brightness and visibility.