New sungrazing comet officially named. See maps here!

This is the new sungrazing comet C/2026 A1 (MAPS). Image via Gerald Rhemann and Michael Jäger. Used with permission.

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New sungrazing comet inbound

There’s a new comet headed into the inner solar system, and it will make an extremely close pass by the sun April 4-5, 2026. This puts it in the category of a sungrazing comet. The International Astronomical Union has now named the comet C/2026 A1 (MAPS).