Uploaded March 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
In tonight’s observation, I captured something surprising.
Comet C/2026 A1 (MAPS) — a Kreutz sungrazing comet expected to dive extremely close to the Sun in April 2026 — is already appearing bright, even though it is still about 1.24 AU from Earth.
At the same time, I also imaged the interstellar object Comet 3I/ATLAS. Unlike the sungrazer, 3I appears extremely faint in my telescope images.
This video shows both observations side-by-side and explains why one comet is already bright while the other remains barely visible.
These early images may give us clues about how Great Comet 2026 could evolve as it approaches the Sun.
In this video
• My telescope images of Comet C/2026 A1 (MAPS)
• A comparison with interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS
• Why sungrazing comets can brighten rapidly
• What might happen as the comet approaches perihelion on April 4, 2026
Sungrazing comets are known for dramatic behavior. Some brighten spectacularly, while others break apart near the Sun.
We may be witnessing the early stages of something remarkable.
Subscribe for more observations
On this channel, I track:
• interstellar objects
• comets entering the Solar System
• solar activity and space weather
• astrophotography from my backyard observatory
New discoveries are happening constantly — and sometimes we can capture them ourselves.
In tonight’s observation, I captured something surprising.
Comet C/2026 A1 (MAPS) — a Kreutz sungrazing comet expected to dive extremely close to the Sun in April 2026 — is already appearing bright, even though it is still about 1.24 AU from Earth.
At the same time, I also imaged the interstellar object Comet 3I/ATLAS. Unlike the sungrazer, 3I appears extremely faint in my telescope images.
This video shows both observations side-by-side and explains why one comet is already bright while the other remains barely visible.
These early images may give us clues about how Great Comet 2026 could evolve as it approaches the Sun.
In this video
• My telescope images of Comet C/2026 A1 (MAPS)
• A comparison with interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS
• Why sungrazing comets can brighten rapidly
• What might happen as the comet approaches perihelion on April 4, 2026
Sungrazing comets are known for dramatic behavior. Some brighten spectacularly, while others break apart near the Sun.
We may be witnessing the early stages of something remarkable.
Subscribe for more observations
On this channel, I track:
• interstellar objects
• comets entering the Solar System
• solar activity and space weather
• astrophotography from my backyard observatory
New discoveries are happening constantly — and sometimes we can capture them ourselves.
