A newly found visitor from the outer solar system is racing toward the Sun, and astronomers are weighing a tantalizing possibility: could it grow bright enough to stand out against the blue of midday? The comet, cataloged as C/2026 A1 (MAPS), is on a trajectory that will carry it extremely close to our star this spring, raising hopes that it might briefly rival the most spectacular “Great Comet” displays of the past. For now, the only certainty is uncertainty, but the physics of sungrazing comets gives some clues about how likely a true daytime spectacle really is.
Comet C/2026 A1 (MAPS) was first spotted from the Atacama desert earlier this year, and early calculations show it belongs to the Kreutz family of sungrazers that have produced some of history’s brightest comets. Those same orbits that set the stage for brilliance also expose these fragile ice-and-dust bodies to intense solar heat, so the same forces that could make Comet MAPS visible in daylight could also tear it apart before it ever reaches peak brightness.
What makes Comet MAPS so special?
At its core, the excitement around Comet MAPS comes down to geometry. The comet’s path will take it extremely close to the Sun, a configuration that can cause a rapid surge in brightness as sunlight heats and vaporizes its surface. Astronomers tracking C/2026 A1 (MAPS) say this close approach could make it visible to the naked eye and potentially even in daylight if the outgassing is vigorous enough, a prospect that has already prompted detailed coverage of the newly discovered comet. The fact that it was identified from Atacama, one of the world’s premier observing sites, helped scientists quickly pin down its orbit and link it to a known family of extreme sungrazers.
That family connection is the second reason MAPS stands out. Orbital calculations show that Comet MAPS is part of the Kreutz sungrazing group, a swarm of fragments thought to be the remains of a single giant comet that broke apart centuries ago. Members of this group have a track record of producing extraordinary displays, and some analyses already suggest that this new comet could in years if it survives intact. That heritage does not guarantee a show, but it does explain why professionals and backyard observers alike are paying such close attention.
How rare are daytime comets?
Daytime comets occupy a special place in skywatching lore because they are so uncommon. For a comet to be seen against the glare of the Sun, it must be both intrinsically bright and positioned so that its light is not completely washed out by daylight. Historical records show that only a handful of comets have ever achieved this feat, and many of them were Kreutz sungrazers similar to Comet MAPS. Modern observers are now asking whether this newcomer could be the next “Great Comet,” a label that some astronomers are already cautiously applying when they ask if Comet MAPS could in its own right.
Past examples help frame expectations. Two of the most famous Kreutz members, which appeared in 1843 and 1882, developed exceptionally long tails and were bright enough to be seen in full daylight, a benchmark that current reports explicitly recall when noting that Two of these sungrazers reached that rare distinction. Those historical giants set a very high bar. Even among Kreutz comets, most never reach that level of brilliance, and many disintegrate before they can put on a comparable show.
The physics behind a potential daytime display
Whether Comet MAPS will actually shine through the daytime sky depends on a delicate balance of size, composition, and solar heating. As the comet plunges inward, solar radiation will vaporize ices and lift dust from its surface, building a coma and tail that reflect sunlight. If the nucleus is large and cohesive, this process can ramp up dramatically near perihelion, causing a steep rise in brightness that might push it into daylight visibility. Early modeling suggests that this object has the potential to brighten rapidly, which is why some analysts are already asking if Could Comet MAPS be visible in broad daylight or even qualify as a Great Comet.
The same physics, however, could spell trouble. As the comet approaches the Sun, tidal forces and thermal stress increase sharply, especially for a Kreutz sungrazer that ventures extremely close to the solar surface. If the nucleus is fractured or loosely bound, it may begin to shed large chunks or even break apart entirely, cutting off the supply of fresh material that fuels its brightening. Some forecasts explicitly warn that the comet might fall apart before reaching its theoretical peak, a risk that is central to the cautious tone in discussions of whether Comet MAPS will adorn the early spring sky or fade prematurely.
How MAPS compares with other current and recent comets
Comet MAPS is not the only icy visitor drawing attention this year, which gives astronomers useful points of comparison. Another object, Comet C/2025 R3 (PanSTARRS), is already bright enough to be seen with small telescopes, with current estimates putting it between magnitude 8 and 8.7, a level that makes it accessible to dedicated amateurs but far from daylight visibility. That benchmark, reported in a roundup of the best comets of, underscores how much brighter MAPS would need to become to stand out against the Sun. The fact that PanSTARRS is already well observed also helps refine models of how comets behave as they move through the inner solar system.
There is also a broader context of heightened comet interest over the past few years. Earlier, another object, Comet C/2025 R3, attracted attention as it approached the inner solar system, with early observations of this Pan Stars visitor highlighted in a discussion of how Pan Stars would pass through the inner solar system and evolve. Separately, some astronomers have pointed to a different object as a potential “Great Comet of 2026,” noting that a Recently discovered comet could soon be visible to the naked eye. Against that backdrop, MAPS is emerging as a leading candidate for the most dramatic display, but it is part of a crowded and evolving cometary landscape.
Lessons from past “next great comets”
Comet MAPS is not the first object in recent memory to be touted as a possible daytime spectacle, and that history offers a cautionary tale. A few years ago, another newcomer, C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS), was widely discussed as a potential “next great” comet that might even be seen in daylight. That object, described as The Next Great Daytime Comet in some early forecasts, reminded observers that long lead times and limited data can make predictions unreliable. As more measurements came in, expectations were revised, illustrating how quickly comet forecasts can change.
The same pattern is already visible with MAPS. Commentators are enthusiastic but careful, stressing that it will take several more weeks of monitoring to know whether the comet is developing into a truly bright object or leveling off. One analysis notes that it appears that observers will need more time to determine whether Newly discovered Comet C/2026 A1 (MAPS) will put on a spectacular show or remain a more modest naked-eye object. That tempered tone reflects lessons learned from earlier hype cycles, when comets that looked promising on paper failed to live up to their billing once they encountered the harsh environment near the Sun.
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*This article was researched with the help of AI, with human editors creating the final content.
