The object first tracked as 6AC4721 has now been confirmed as a comet — an exceptionally early, ground-based catch for a Kreutz-family “sungrazer,” which usually only shows up later in SOHO coronagraph images.
Why this matters: Catching a Kreutz comet this far out means we can watch its evolution for weeks — maybe months — before it dives toward the Sun in early April 2026. That’s a rare opportunity to track how a sungrazer “switches on,” how its coma and tail develop, and whether it can stay intact as solar heating ramps up.
The big question:Most Kreutz comets don’t survive perihelion… but the few that do can become truly spectacular. So for now: cautious excitement, steady monitoring, and lots of fresh data coming in.
Discovery highlights:• Discovered from San Pedro de Atacama (Chile) at the AMACS1 Observatory using a 0.28 m (11") f/2.2 Schmidt + CCD• Found at 2.056 AU from the Sun and 1.433 AU from Earth — reportedly the farthest distance at which a Kreutz sungrazer has ever been discovered• About mag 17.8 at discovery, in the constellation Columba
More updates soon as new images and photometry arrive.
First picture: Comet Ikeya-Seki as photographed by Roger Lynds from Kitt Peak at dawn on October 29, 1965.
Maps on the trajectory C-2026-A1-MAPS Sungrazing Comet
Deep Dive
This pages relates the discovery of this comet.
www.spaceobs.com
The MAPS (Maury, Attard, Parrott, Signoret) program is an independent program to discover near-Earth asteroids using the synthetic tracking technique.
Extraordinary ‘Sungrazer’ Comet Could Dazzle NYC skywatchers With a Stunning Show This Week
Apr 4, 2026
An extraordinary ‘sungrazer’ comet could dazzle NYC skywatchers with a stunning show. Meteorologist Joe Rao joined FOX Weather to provide into the celestial comet that will be visible to the naked eye into the work week.
