Published March 23, 2026 03:54AM<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
A vivid comet could soon adorn the evening sky. If it survives its early April approach toward the sun, the cosmic orb could even become visible to the naked eye, and possibly as bright as Venus.<\/p>\n
Yet a lot has to go right for this to happen, and astronomers are crossing their fingers that it does because Comet C\/2026 A1 (MAPS) is a special type of snowball.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s known as a sungrazer, a term used for any comet that gets especially close to the sun (within 850,000 miles). Comet MAPS, named for a group of French astronomers who helped find it in January, will get as close as 465,000 miles from the sun; that\u2019s roughly the round-trip distance from Earth to the moon.<\/p>\n
This proximity could spark an incredible early April comet show. Or, it could end in disappointment, with the cluster breaking apart as it nears our bright star.<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s what to know about seeing Comet MAPS in early April, including when we\u2019ll know its fate and where to watch if all goes to plan.<\/p>\n Like the northern lights, comet visibility is a big guessing game. We can\u2019t get close enough to study the object\u2019s composition\u2014mostly ice, rock, and gases\u2014so we don\u2019t know how they\u2019ll fare near the sun.<\/p>\n Sometimes, like the show-stopping Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS of 2024, they turn spectacular. \u201cThe gas and dust released form a temporary atmosphere called a coma and can also produce a few tails,\u201d says Eric Gustafson, senior educator at the Saint Louis Science Center\u2019s James S. McDonnell Planetarium<\/a>.<\/p>\n Astronomers are also giddy about Comet MAPS\u2019 size, as larger snowballs are often likelier to withstand their closest approach to the sun, known as perihelion. \u201cSome estimates suggest its diameter could be about 2 kilometers [1.2 miles],\u201d says Gustafson, noting this is larger than most sungrazers. \u201cThe comet stands a chance of surviving perihelion. If this comes true, could it be the next great comet?\u201d<\/p>\n According to Gustafson, if the comet can endure perihelion on April 4, it could reach an apparent magnitude of -4. That\u2019s roughly as bright as Venus, which many stargazers admired with the unaided eye during last month\u2019s planet parade.<\/p>\n Comet MAPS would look especially bright around April 4 and 5. It may even become visible during the day, but Gustafson says it\u2019s too close to the sun to see safely during daylight hours.<\/p>\n And unfortunately, this sight greatly favors the southern hemisphere. In the northern hemisphere, including the U.S., it would appear just barely above the southwest horizon at dusk, making it tricky to see, according to stargazing app Star Walk<\/a>.<\/p>\n While viewing is much better in the southern hemisphere, we could still be in for a celestial treat up north. \u201cThe one hope we have for seeing this comet is, if it behaves like other great comets of the past, they often develop extremely long tails that can stretch over 40 degrees of the night sky,\u201d says Gustafson. For scale, that\u2019s longer than the Big Dipper.<\/p>\n If this happens, we would see the tail above the southwest horizon on April 4 and a few days after, says Gustafson. That means you should find a perch with clear views of the southwest horizon.<\/p>\n In addition to a getaway with unobstructed southwest vistas, you\u2019ll want a lookout with dark skies. Light pollution can obscure a comet\u2019s glow, so use a light pollution map<\/a>, or consider dark-sky getaways like the Oregon Outback or Big Bend, to enhance the show.<\/p>\n If the comet gets as bright as estimated, you won\u2019t necessarily need binoculars to admire it, but they always help. Just wait to point them until after the sun has fully set.<\/p>\n Time will tell whether or not Comet MAPS reaches its potential come April 4. If it doesn\u2019t, all is not lost. With strong telescopes, you can often see smaller comets throughout the year, and many observatories welcome the public to experience this celestial awe. Here are six observatories to visit for viewing comets, or other space sights.<\/p>\n Perched atop the Quinlan mountains\u2019 highest point, Kitt Peak National Observatory<\/a> gets you closer to the heavens for stellar sky-watching. It welcomes guests to spy on nebulae, comets, and galaxies through several of its powerful telescopes. The observatory runs ticketed nightly observing sessions as well as the chance to experience Kitt Peak as a visiting astronomer, with all-night access to its public telescopes and accommodations in the stargazing hub\u2019s dorm rooms.<\/p>\n Millions of stargazers have peered through Griffith Observatory\u2019s<\/a> telescopes since 1935. In fact, more sky-watchers viewed Halley\u2019s Comet (1986) and Comet Hale-Bopp (1997) through the observatory\u2019s Zeiss gear than any other telescope on Earth. Today, its free public sessions let stargazers get up close and personal with myriad celestial marvels. Observations run from 7 to 9:30 P.M. most nights.<\/p>\n Set in West Texas\u2019 Chihuahuan Desert, McDonald Observatory<\/a> enjoys inky skies and, with its powerful technology, clear views into deep space. Sign up for an evening star party to learn about the night sky and look through the observatory\u2019s optical aids. Special ticketed viewing nights let users peek through the 36-inch or 82-inch telescopes, which get you close to galaxies and planets.<\/p>\n The Saint Louis Science Center\u2019s<\/a> McDonnell Planetarium runs monthly star parties, where patrons can look through the facility\u2019s numerous telescopes with narration from planetarium experts. The museum also hosts pop-up stargazing festivities timed to exciting astronomical events, such as bright comets or planet conjunctions.<\/p>\n With over a dozen telescopes available to the public, the Oregon Observatory<\/a> makes it easy to peruse our solar system and beyond. The NASA-backed facility hosts ticketed stargazing sessions year-round. Expect views of globular clusters, nebulae, binary stars, and, when they\u2019re visible, comets. With solar telescopes, you can even safely look at the sun. The observatory is located right beside Sunriver Resort<\/a>, which hosts after-dark experiences like new moon yoga and sound baths.<\/p>\n You\u2019ll find some of the Northeast\u2019s darkest skies in Upstate New York\u2019s Adirondacks. The Adirondack Sky Center and Observatory<\/a> in Tupper Lake takes advantage of these pristine nightscapes with free public stargazing and telescope access on most clear nights. Check the center\u2019s Facebook page<\/a> for updates on gatherings.<\/p>\n <\/div>\nWill Comet C\/2026 A1 Become Visible to the Naked Eye?<\/h2>\n
When to Look for Comet C\/2026 A1<\/h2>\n
![\"Comet](\"https:\/\/cdn.outsideonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/comet-tsuchinshan.jpg?width=3840&auto=webp&quality=75&fit=cover\"\/)
How to Watch Comet C\/2026 A1 in the U.S.<\/h2>\n
Where to See Comets in the U.S.<\/h2>\n
![\"Kitt](\"https:\/\/cdn.outsideonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/kitt.jpg?width=3840&auto=webp&quality=75&fit=cover\"\/)
Kitt Peak National Observatory: Tucson, Arizona<\/h3>\n
Griffith Observatory: Los Angeles, California<\/h3>\n
McDonald Observatory: Fort Davis, Texas<\/h3>\n
Saint Louis Science Center: Saint Louis, Missouri<\/h3>\n
Sunriver Nature Center & Observatory: Sunriver, Oregon<\/h3>\n
Adirondack Sky Center and Observatory: Tupper Lake, New York<\/h3>\n