A new comet grazing the sun arrives

A new comet is heading towards the inner Solar System and will be very close to the Sun on April 4-5, 2026. This puts it in the comet category. comet in the sun. The International Astronomical Union named this comet C/2026 A1 (MAPS). It will be the first comet discovered in 2026.

The MAPS program, conducted by a group of French amateur astronomers using telescopes in Chile, discovered the comet on January 13, 2026. The amateur astronomers used an 11-inch (0.28-meter) diameter telescope in San Pedro de Atacama, Chile. Their observation program, MAPS, is an acronym for their surnames: Morley, Attard, Parrot, and Signoret.

Possibility of larger comet debris

astronomer Pierrot Chicoli The Solmano Observatory in Italy discovered that this object has an orbit very similar to that of a comet. C/1963 R1 (Pereira). Therefore, it could be a fragment of it or another comet with a very similar orbit of the type called a “comet”. Kreuz comet. These comets are named after German astronomer Heinrich Kreuz.

Comet Kreuz is a type of comet that grazes the Sun. They pass very close to the sun. Scientists believe they may be large pieces of a giant comet that broke up centuries ago.

What is happening to comets that graze the sun?

C/2026 A1 already shows a small tail and a diffuse green coma. The color suggests the emission of diatomic carbon (C2), a gas commonly found in comets.

The comet is currently between the constellations. columba with pigeons Eridanus river.

comets may be big

The detail that caught the attention of astronomers was the presence of newly discovered objects in the vicinity. magnitude 18 When it was still 2 astronomical units (Australia) away. (1 AU is equivalent to the distance between the Earth and the Sun.)

This may be the furthest from the Sun that astronomers have ever seen a Kreuz sungraser on its way to the Sun. perihelion. (Perihelion means closest approach to the Sun.) Observation this early suggests it must be of decent size. Therefore, it is likely to brighten as it approaches the Sun in the coming weeks.

Preliminary observations suggest that the newly discovered comet’s core may be up to 1.5 miles (2.4 km) in diameter.

The danger of comets facing the sun

How close will Comet C/2026 A1 MAPS be to the Sun? Now, preliminary estimates indicate that a comet that grazes the Sun’s light will pass 487,088 miles (783,892 km) from the Sun’s surface. That’s as close as it gets. The Sun itself has a diameter of 865,370 miles (139,2678 km).

When a comet gets this close to the Sun, it can disintegrate. The intense heat could cause gas to be released from the comet, tearing it apart. Additionally, the Sun’s gravity could cause it to split apart. If so do If they can withstand the sun’s intense heat, comets may become very bright at dusk. This will be after its closest approach to the Sun during the first week of April.

But there is reason for hope. Other comets survived even closer to the Sun. They also became bright lighthouses in the night sky. For example, C/1965 S1 (Ikeya-Seki) came within 280,000 miles (450,000 km) of the Sun. In the end, it shone at magnitude -10. Observers called it the Great Comet of 1965. C/2011 W3 (Lovejoy) In 2011, it came within 87,000 miles (140,000 km) of the Sun. In the end, it shone with a magnitude of -3 or -4, about the same brightness as Venus. Such comets do not occur often. Therefore, this will be a valuable opportunity for scientists to learn more about comets facing the Sun.

finder chart

In early 2026, views of comet C/2026 A1 will continue to be in the realm of powerful telescopes. If you have a large telescope, you can use the Marchfinder map below to locate the comet. And in April, when the comet is bright enough to be seen with the naked eye, anyone can start looking for the comet.

Conclusion: A new sun-grazing comet will orbit the sun in early April. It can appear as a bright target in our sky.

Read more: The best comets of 2026: Here’s what to look out for