Newly Discovered Sungrazing Comet C/2026 A1 (MAPS) Approaches Perihelion
Comet C/2026 A1 (MAPS), discovered in January 2026, is set to make a close approach to the Sun on April 4, 2026, potentially becoming visible to the naked eye if it survives the encounter.
Astronomers have identified a new sungrazing comet, C/2026 A1 (MAPS), which is projected to make a close approach to the Sun on April 4, 2026. Discovered on January 13, 2026, by the MAPS program at the AMACS1 Observatory in Chile's Atacama Desert, the comet was initially designated 6AC4721. The discovery team comprises Alain Maury, Georges Attard, Daniel Parrott, and Florian Signoret.
C/2026 A1 (MAPS) belongs to the Kreutz family of sungrazers, a group of comets that pass extremely close to the Sun. The comet was detected at a distance of 2.056 astronomical units (AU) from the Sun, marking the furthest discovery of a Kreutz sungrazer to date.
The comet's perihelion distance is calculated to be approximately 0.00547 AU, placing it about 160,000 kilometers (99,000 miles) above the Sun's surface. This trajectory will take it through the solar corona, subjecting it to intense heat and gravitational forces.
If C/2026 A1 (MAPS) withstands these extreme conditions, it could become visible to the naked eye, potentially shining as brightly as Venus. However, the survival of sungrazing comets is uncertain, as many disintegrate during close solar encounters.
Optimal viewing opportunities are expected in the Southern Hemisphere, with potential visibility in the Northern Hemisphere near the southwestern horizon at sunset. Observers are advised to exercise caution when attempting to view the comet due to its proximity to the Sun.
C/2026 A1 (MAPS) is the third comet discovered by the MAPS program, following C/2025 L2 (MAPS) and C/2025 O2 (MAPS). The program utilizes remote telescopes in the Atacama Desert to monitor and discover celestial objects.