Kreutz sungrazer C/2026 A1 (MAPS) has brightened by yet another ~1 mag since March 26. The gas coma can brighten by another ~3 mag before the nucleus is destroyed, if this surge in brightness culminates in a ~2-day terminal outburst as was the case for the last distantly bright Kreutz sungrazer, C/2024 S1 (ATLAS). Unfortunately, this is as far we can follow this comet with the Lowell Discovery Telescope, as the comet is rapidly sinking into twilight and the weather forecast calls for clouds for much of the next week.
Qicheng Zhang GoToSocial Actor feed