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Kreutz Sungrazer

All articles tagged with #kreutz sungrazer

space1 month ago•12 min saved

Atacama amateurs spot a 1,900-year comet 81 days before its perihelion

Four amateur astronomers running a remote 11-inch Schmidt telescope in Chile’s Atacama Desert discovered C/2026 A1 (MAPS), a Kreutz sungrazer, on January 13, 2026—81 days before it would pass near the Sun. Its last inner-solar-system visit likely occurred in the late Roman era (roughly 1,700–1,886 years ago, with a possible sighting in 363 AD). The comet likely disintegrated during its close solar approach on April 4, 2026, but the find demonstrates that dedicated amateurs can catch long-period comets early, well before professional surveys.

via spacedaily.com|

#amateur-astronomy #atacama-desert #comets

science7 months ago•40 min saved

Easter comet MAPS could blaze in twilight skies after near-sun pass

A newly discovered comet, C/2026 A1 (MAPS), is brightening rapidly and could become visible from Earth if it survives a perilous close approach to the Sun on April 4, passing about 99,000 miles from the solar photosphere. If it endures, it may be seen in the western twilight around April 8–14, potentially as bright as Venus, with the safest viewing through SOHO’s LASCO C3 imagery from April 2–6. Astronomers emphasize eye safety when looking near the Sun and note the comet’s Kreutz sungrazer nature and long orbital history, with observations focusing on the Sun‑watching spacecraft for near-real-time images.

via Yahoo|

#kreutz-sungrazer #maps #perihelion

astronomy7 months ago•56 min saved

Easter Comet MAPS Could Light Daytime Skies If It Survives Solar Brunt

A newly discovered comet, C/2026 A1 (MAPS), has brightened enough to potentially be seen from Earth in coming weeks, but only if it survives an extremely close pass by the Sun on April 4, nearly skimming the solar surface at about 159,000 km. If it endures, it could briefly appear in the western twilight between April 8–14, possibly rivaling Venus in brightness. Observers are urged to use caution around looking at the Sun; binoculars may help locate it and viewing via SOHO's LASCO imagery offers a safer alternative. The MAPS team discovered the comet on Jan. 13 in Chile, and its fate hinges on whether solar heat and gravity tear it apart during perihelion.

via Space|

#astronomy #c2026-a1 #kreutz-sungrazer

space8 months ago•84 min saved

New Sungrazing Comet Could Glow in Daylight if It Survives Its Close Sun Pass

Discovered C/2026 A1 (MAPS) is a Kreutz sungrazing comet that will swing within about 0.5 million miles of the Sun at perihelion on April 4; if it survives the solar blast, it could become bright enough to be seen with the naked eye—even in daylight—if it survives the solar encounter; observers in the Southern Hemisphere are best placed to view, while those in the north may see it low on the western horizon at sunset; most sungrazers disintegrate near perihelion, so brightness is uncertain, and even if it breaks up it could remain visible with a telescope in late March; another potential bright comet, C/2025 PanSTARRS, may follow later in April.

via Live Science|

#comets #daylight-visibility #kreutz-sungrazer

space8 months ago•6 min saved

Fresh Kreutz Fragment MAPS Could Dazzle Skies in April

A newly discovered Kreutz sungrazer, C/2026 A1 (MAPS), may swing extremely close to the Sun in early April. If it survives perihelion, it could become a notable evening sky object and possibly visible in daylight; its brightness depends on whether it remains intact or breaks up, with the southern hemisphere likely having the best viewing opportunity. SOHO will provide images of the event.

via ScienceAlert|

#april-show #comet-maps #daytime-visibility