Comet MAPS: A Potential Naked-Eye Visitor for Spring

Astronomers are buzzing about Comet C/2026 A1 (MAPS), a Kreutz sungrazer discovered in Chile that could become a bright naked-eye comet if it survives its extreme Sun approach at perihelion in early April. Its current magnitude is faint, and experts split on whether it will survive and brighten; by early March we should have a clearer forecast. If MAPS performs, it could grace the western evening sky in mid-April after sunset, but many Kreutz comets disintegrate near perihelion. The MAPS name honors the team that developed its discovery program.