A new ‘Great Comet’ may be visible in broad daylight – here’s when to see it
A new comet has been discovered. Here’s what we know
- Astronomers are excited about the newly discovered comet C/2026 A1 (MAPS), which was spotted by amateur astronomers in the Atacama Desert on 13 January.
- Classified as a Kreutz sungrazing comet, it is expected to pass within just 120,000km of the Sun's surface in early April.
- If the comet survives its fiery close approach to the Sun, it could become a spectacular sight, potentially visible in broad daylight.
- Kreutz sungrazers are fragments of a giant comet that broke apart millennia ago, with many historically producing dazzling displays.
- While its ultimate brightness is uncertain, its early discovery suggests it may be a reasonably large fragment, and observers are now watching and waiting for its perihelion.
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