Comet MAPS Approaching Earth: Will It Become Visible to the Naked Eye in April 2026?
A newly discovered comet C/2026 A1 (formerly known as 6AC4721) is racing toward the inner Solar System. It will pass extremely close to the Sun in early April, and if it survives, it could become visible to the naked eye — possibly even in daylight. Read on to learn everything known so far, and follow its journey with the Star Walk 2 app.
Contents
- What is Comet C/2026 A1 (MAPS)?
- Will C/2026 A1 become the next great comet?
- When and Where to See Comet C/2026 A1?
- Comet C/2026 A1: Orbit and Trajectory
- Comet C/2026 A1: Discovery
- Newly-Discovered Comet C/2026 A1: Summary
What is Comet C/2026 A1 (MAPS)?
- Type: Long-period sungrazing comet (probably Kreutz group)
- Orbital period: ~850 years
- Perihelion: ~April 4-5, 2026 (~0.0053 AU)
- Closest approach to Earth: ~0.56 AU
- Predicted brightness: mag -1 or brighter (if it survives perihelion)
- Best visible from: Southern Hemisphere
C/2026 A1 is a rare type of comet called a sungrazer — it passes extremely close to the Sun. Many sungrazers belong to the Kreutz family and are believed to be fragments of a much larger comet that broke apart long ago. They are often destroyed by the Sun’s heat, but if Comet MAPS survives, it could become exceptionally bright and develop a spectacular tail.
Comets come in many forms, not just sungrazers like C/2026 A1. They differ in their orbits, origins, and behavior. For a quick and easy way to learn the basics about comets, check out our comet infographic.
Will C/2026 A1 become the next great comet?
C/2026 A1 is a sungrazing comet with an orbit similar to that of Kreutz-family comets, which are famous for producing some of the brightest comets in history, including Comet Ikeya–Seki (1965) and Comet Lovejoy (2011). These comets pass extremely close to the Sun, and if they survive, they can brighten dramatically and grow long, striking tails in a very short time.
- In the best-case scenario, the comet could surge in brightness near perihelion in early April 2026, emerging as a naked-eye sungrazer and one of the most striking comets of the year, comparable to Comet Lovejoy.
- At the same time, sungrazers are famously unpredictable. The comet’s close encounter with the Sun may prove too intense, causing it to break apart before reaching peak brightness.
Both outcomes are possible — which is exactly why this comet is drawing so much attention. With that in mind, here’s what observers might expect as the comet approaches the Sun.
When and Where to See Comet C/2026 A1?
Comet MAPS is expected to travel through southern sky constellations, including Caelum and Pyxis. Exact paths and visibility windows will be refined as more observations are gathered.
Because of its orbit, C/2026 A1 will remain faint until March, but could brighten rapidly leading up to its solar encounter in early April. If it survives, observers in the Southern Hemisphere will get the best views in mid to late April, especially during morning twilight.
Here’s a more detailed look at when and how the comet may become visible:
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March: In early March, the comet will still be faint (around magnitude 14-12). While dim, it may be observable under dark skies, especially from the Southern Hemisphere, offering early chances for telescopic observation. By late March, the comet is expected to continue brightening and could become visible with binoculars (around magnitude 6-5), though it will remain a challenging target.
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April 4–5: This is the comet’s closest approach to the Sun, when it passes just above the solar surface. Models suggest that intense solar heating could cause a dramatic surge in brightness, potentially reaching extreme magnitudes (up to magnitude -7). Under favorable conditions, this could allow observations in bright twilight or, in extreme cases, near the Sun.
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April 6–15: If the comet survives perihelion, it could reappear in the morning sky, rapidly brightening over just a few days. During this window, the comet may become visible to the naked eye, and under favorable conditions, it could even be spotted in daylight near the Sun. Observers in the Southern Hemisphere are likely to have the best views, especially during morning twilight. At northern latitudes, visibility may be brief and challenging, with the comet appearing low on the horizon during civil twilight, allowing only short observing windows.
Moon phase also matters: skywatchers should plan around the New Moon on April 17, which will provide darker skies. Avoid the days near the Full Moon on May 1, when moonlight may wash out the comet’s faint structures. For convenient planning, check the Moon phase calendar on our website.
The timing of the comet’s best visibility is not a coincidence — it’s shaped by its unusual path through the Solar System. Read on to explore the details of its orbit.
Comet C/2026 A1: Orbit and Trajectory
Unlike the planets, which all move around the Sun in the same direction, comet C/2026 A1 travels the opposite way on a sharply tilted path (about 144.5°). Like typical Kreutz comets, it follows a long, stretched path that brings it extremely close to the Sun, where it will face a dramatic and risky encounter.
- At its closest approach to the Sun on April 4, 2026, the comet will pass about 170,000 km above the Sun’s surface. At that moment, it will be almost impossible to see from Earth because it will be lost in the Sun’s glare — primarily solar observatories like SOHO or STEREO may be able to spot it. If the comet survives this close encounter, it could later return to the morning sky with a spectacular tail stretching across the horizon.
- Despite its dramatic solar encounter, the comet will not come close to Earth. At its nearest approach on April 5, 2026, it is expected to remain more than 140,000,000 km away, meaning it poses no risk.
Comet C/2026 A1: Discovery
C/2026 A1 (MAPS) was first spotted on January 13, 2026, by a trio of astronomers: Alain Maury, Georges Attard, and Florian Signoret, using robotic telescopes in Chile as part of the MAPS (Maury/Attard/Paris Survey) project. The discovery images showed a fuzzy, tailed object, classic signs of a comet. Follow-up observations confirmed the cometary nature of the object, and the Minor Planet Center moved it to the Comet Confirmation Page within days.
Why is the comet called C/2026 A1 (MAPS)?
The name follows the standard naming convention for comets:
- C/ — Indicates a non-periodic comet (typically with orbital periods longer than 200 years or on open trajectories).
- 2026 — The year the comet was discovered.
- A1 — The first half-month of January is labeled "A", and this was the first comet discovered during that period.
- (MAPS) — Acknowledges the discovery team’s survey project: Maury/Attard/Paris Survey, which detected the comet using telescopes in Chile.
Before receiving its formal name, the comet was cataloged under the temporary internal code 6AC4721, which was an internal provisional identifier used prior to formal designation.
Why Is Comet C/2026 A1 Special?
C/2026 A1 has drawn early excitement because:
- It’s a large Kreutz comet, possibly the most prominent Kreutz comet since Lovejoy (2011)
- It was discovered unusually early for a sungrazer — at about 2 AU from the Sun, whereas most sungrazing comets are first detected only when they are much closer, often within 0.1–0.3 AU.
- Its path and brightness may rival great comets of the past (e.g., Ikeya-Seki, 1965).
If it survives the solar plunge, it may develop a daylight-visible coma and multi-million-km dust tail, which is rare even among bright comets.
If C/2026 A1 survives its close encounter with the Sun, it could join the small and informal group of comets often referred to as “great comets” — objects that become exceptionally bright, develop enormous tails, and leave a lasting mark in astronomical history. What exactly makes a comet “great,” and how do astronomers decide which comets earn that unofficial title? To learn how great comets are defined — and to revisit the most famous examples — read our article on great comets.
Why Is Comet C/2026 A1 Important For Science?
Comets like C/2026 A1 offer a glimpse into the early Solar System. Being relatively pristine, they preserve materials from the system’s formation. Its extremely close perihelion also provides a unique opportunity to study how intense solar heating affects volatile-rich bodies. Additionally, its orbital parameters may help refine models of the Kreutz family’s fragmentation history, possibly tracing its ancestry back to a single massive progenitor that broke up a millennium ago.
Newly-Discovered Comet C/2026 A1: Summary
Comet C/2026 A1 (MAPS), temporarily known as 6AC4721, is shaping up to be one of the most exciting comets in years. This rare sungrazing comet will pass extremely close to the Sun and could become visible to the naked eye in April 2026 — or disappear entirely. Either way, it’s a celestial event worth following. Track the comet with Star Walk 2, mark your calendar for early April, and stay tuned: the coming months could bring a sky show to remember.
Comets Visible Tonight: What to See Until April 2026
While we wait to see whether the newly-discovered sungrazing comet lives up to expectations, check our article about other comets you can observe right now. Several comets are currently visible with binoculars or small telescopes, depending on your location and sky conditions. They may not be headline-makers, but they’re great targets for practice — and a good way to get ready for a potential naked-eye comet later this year.
One More Bright Comet In April 2026: C/2025 R3 (PanSTARRS)
While C/2026 A1 is still awaiting final confirmation, C/2025 R3 (Pan-STARRS) is a well-established, confirmed comet that astronomers have been tracking for some time. It is also expected to brighten in April 2026, offering skywatchers another exciting target — possibly even visible to the naked eye. To learn what makes this comet special and how best to observe it, take a look at our separate article on C/2025 R3 (Pan-STARRS).
