Will it or won’t it?
Sky watchers are anxiously awaiting the chance to spot a comet in early April, but there’s a possibility their hopes won’t come to pass.
Space.com said that some have christened the comet, called Comet MAPS, “The Great Easter Comet of 2026,” due to the proximity to the holiday.
Comet MAPS, the latest of over 4,000 comets — could offer a celestial delight beginning next weekend, according to NASA’s website. The space agency describes comets as “cosmic snowballs” of frozen gases, rock and dust that orbit the sun. When frozen, they are the size of a small town.
But comets are famously unpredictable.
South Shore beaches such as Long Beach, Jones Beach and Fire Island are a few of the ideal viewing spots, due to how they’re angled, according to Stephen Lawrence, a Hofstra professor of physics and astronomy.
He expects it between April 4 and 10.
Aim for a clear view of the western horizon, he said, as twilight is fading, 30 to 45 minutes after sunset, from open fields or tall buildings.
You can use your phone’s compass — or a real compass — to find due west, he said.
But don’t get your hopes up, he cautioned: It’s possible the comet won’t be viewable at all.
“There’s a lot of hype right now,” he said. “But more often than not they don’t survive.”
Matthew Chayes, a Newsday reporter since 2007, covers New York City.