Comet MAPS will approach the Sun on 4 April: will it be the highlight of the month?
Star Walk reports this.
The most significant moment for the comet will come on 4 April, when it will approach the Sun at an extremely close distance. According to astronomical estimates, during its perihelion, C/2026 A1 MAPS will pass approximately 162–170 thousand kilometres from the Sun’s surface. It is at this very moment that its fate will be decided: the comet may either survive the close approach or begin to disintegrate under the influence of high temperatures and gravity.
Astronomers emphasise that such sun-grazing comets behave unpredictably. They may suddenly dim, break apart, or, conversely, rapidly brighten. In the case of MAPS, experts are considering several scenarios at once – from complete destruction to a spectacular survival with a bright tail after passing close to the Sun.
For now, observing the comet from Earth is almost impossible, as it is lost in the Sun’s bright glare. That is why any attempts to search for it near the Sun using binoculars or a telescope are dangerous to your eyesight. The safest way to follow this stage is through images from solar observatories, in particular SOHO.
If the comet survives the close approach, the best time for observation will be after 6 April. According to preliminary forecasts, this is when it may appear in the evening sky, and in a favourable scenario, it may even become visible to the naked eye. At the same time, the best viewing conditions are expected in the Southern Hemisphere, whilst in the Northern Hemisphere the comet will be low above the horizon.
Comet C/2026 A1 was discovered in January 2026. It belongs to the rare Kreutz group of comets – bodies that approach the Sun at extremely close distances. According to orbital estimates, its orbital period is approximately 1,700–2,000 years, so the appearance of such an object in the sky is a very rare event.
