This was intrinsically the brightest Kreutz comet of the 19th century. It was a monster comet by any measure, about 9 magnitudes (almost 4000x) brighter than comet MAPS.
It was discovered only 16 days before perihelion (MAPS reaches that point on March 19th). By September 7th, 1882 – 10 days before perihelion – it was already 2nd to 3rd magnitude.
By September 13th – 4 days before perihelion it was at least -2nd magnitude, with a 12° tail. At perihelion it was observed with the naked eye, in broad daylight, right next to the Sun, complete with a 3° tail! It was followed in the daytime sky for over a week.
At the end of September, two weeks after perihelion, it was 0th magnitude with an exceptionally brilliant 25° tail.
One month later, at the end of October the comet had only faded to 2nd magnitude, but the tail was 30° long!
Certainly one of the greatest comets of the millennium – John Bortle calls the Great September Comet of 1882 a Super Comet, a class above Great Comets, shared with only two other comets – the Great Comet of 1577 and Comet De Cheseaux of 1743.
Source: Jure Atanackov
by Busy_Yesterday9455