Newly Discovered Comet Could Appear During the Day—If It's Not Destroyed First
By Passant Rabie
Published on March 12, 2026.
A newly discovered comet, Comet MAPS (C/2026 A1), is set for its closest approach to the Sun on April 4, when it will come within 99,000 miles (160,000 kilometers) from the Sun. This close encounter could determine whether it survives during daylight or completely disintegrates. If it survives, the comet could shine as bright as Venus in the evening twilight. The discovery was made by astronomers Alain Maury, Georges Attard, Daniel Parrott, and Florian Signoret from the AMACS1 Observatory in Chile. The comet is part of a group of comets named Kreutz sungrazers, which often survive their close approaches to the sun during their close encounters. However, viewing prospects for the comet are limited due to its low visibility and its long tail.
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