# Potentially great comet on its way **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 18, 2026, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/potentially-great-comet-on-its-way/1026799 "2026-01-18T16:09:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2026, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/potentially-great-comet-on-its-way/1026799/1 "2026-01-18T16:09:35Z")
We are overdue for a “great” comet. McNaught / Lovejoy / Hale-Bopp and Ikeya–Seki were all decades ago. A few days ago, a new “Sungrazer" (Kreutz) > **[Kreutz sungrazer](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kreutz_sungrazer)** > > The Kreutz sungrazers (/ˈkrɔɪts/ ⓘ KROYTS) are a family of sungrazing comets, characterized by orbits taking them extremely close to the Sun at perihelion. At the far extreme of their orbits, aphelion, Kreutz sungrazers can be a hundred times farther from the Sun than the Earth is, while their distance of closest approach can be less than twice the Sun's radius. They are believed to be fragments of one large comet that broke up several centuries ago and are named for German astronomer Heinrich Kr... comet was discovered. It’s still quite far out, but if it follows the path of other similar comets. if could become the comet of the century (or last few centuries). It’s possible if could be visible during the day. I’m not holding my breath, but I might keep my fingers crossed. Closest approach to the Sun will be April 4th, 2026, and it will pass closer to the surface of the Sun than the Earth is to the Moon. > **[6AC4721](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/6AC4721)** > > 6AC4721 is a preliminary designation for a Kreutz sungrazer comet discovered on 13 January 2026 from the AMACS1 Observatory in the Atacama Desert. This comet was discovered through the MAPS program, which were led by Alain Maury, Georges Attard and Florian Signoret.\[a\] > The object was discovered from the AMACS1 Observatory at San Pedro de Atacama, using a 0.28 m (11 in) f/2.2 Schmidt telescope with a CCD camera. It was discovered at 2.056 AU (307.6 million km; 191.1 million mi) from the Sun's c... > **[Potentially bright ‘sungrazing’ comet discovered – Astronomy Now](https://astronomynow.com/2026/01/16/potentially-bright-sungrazing-comet-discovered/)** ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2026, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/potentially-great-comet-on-its-way/1026799/2 "2026-01-18T16:34:41Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > It’s possible if could be visible during the day. I’m not holding my breath, but I might keep my fingers crossed. That’s typically a sign that some kind of end timey prophecy is coming true, no? ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2026, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/potentially-great-comet-on-its-way/1026799/3 "2026-01-18T16:38:47Z")
Yes, along with dogs and cats living together, and mass hysteria. ---
**Author:** ![SuntanLotion](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suntanlotion/32/16165_2.png) [@SuntanLotion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuntanLotion)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2026, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/potentially-great-comet-on-its-way/1026799/4 "2026-01-18T16:39:48Z")
Looking forward to it. Astronomy is fascinating. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2026, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/potentially-great-comet-on-its-way/1026799/5 "2026-01-18T16:58:58Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > Yes, along with dogs and cats living together, and mass hysteria. Then it’s a good thing that all of the dogs and cats have been eaten. ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2026, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/potentially-great-comet-on-its-way/1026799/6 "2026-01-18T17:19:59Z")
Getting that close to the sun could cause it to disintegrate. No choice but to await developments, as we’ve been disappointed far too many times, and I may not make Halley’s next apparition (I’d be 98)… ---
**Author:** ![MacDoc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/macdoc/32/18696_2.png) [@MacDoc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacDoc)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2026, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/potentially-great-comet-on-its-way/1026799/7 "2026-01-18T17:26:19Z")
Walking out from our apartment in Hermanus SA was a life changing event. 3 days of this. > **[Seeing in the Dark . Astrophoto Gallery | Comet McNaught | PBS](https://www.pbs.org/seeinginthedark/astrophoto-gallery/cometmcnaught.html)** doubt I can top it ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2026, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/potentially-great-comet-on-its-way/1026799/8 "2026-01-18T18:17:07Z")
Yeah, that was a great one. Perfect for you folks near the Ice Wall. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Girlfriend](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.girlfriend/32/193_2.png) [@Dr.Girlfriend](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Girlfriend)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2026, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/potentially-great-comet-on-its-way/1026799/9 "2026-01-18T18:17:49Z")
I’ll be 86 when Halley’s comes back. Given my family history the odds are not in my favor. Hoping this one turns out to be something cool. ---
**Author:** ![markn\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2026, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/potentially-great-comet-on-its-way/1026799/10 "2026-01-18T19:07:32Z")
I hope they come up with a good name for it. " 6AC4721" doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue. ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2026, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/potentially-great-comet-on-its-way/1026799/11 "2026-01-18T19:32:24Z")
Halley’s last appearance was a disappointment. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2026, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/potentially-great-comet-on-its-way/1026799/12 "2026-01-18T19:40:11Z")
Yeah, with the way comets work, they don’t really recover from duds. 1986 was evidence that Halley is now completely spent, and will never again be impressive. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2026, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/potentially-great-comet-on-its-way/1026799/13 "2026-01-18T19:56:32Z")
Is that a joke? I understood it was so faint last time because the tail was pointing away from us, making it almost invisible from our POV. ---
**Author:** ![3AxisCtrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/3/ecd19e/32.png) [@3AxisCtrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/3AxisCtrl)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2026, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/potentially-great-comet-on-its-way/1026799/14 "2026-01-18T20:27:57Z")
> [@MacDoc](#): > > doubt I can top it That was my thought, too. I was on the South Island of New Zealand, weather was consistently clear, and comet McNaught was beyond spectacular - a once-in-a-lifetime spectacle. That photo in your link is just how it looked to the naked eye. So I don’t deserve another Great comet - but maybe it will happen anyway. ---
**Author:** ![MacDoc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/macdoc/32/18696_2.png) [@MacDoc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacDoc)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2026, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/potentially-great-comet-on-its-way/1026799/15 "2026-01-18T20:34:00Z")
> [@TreacherousCretin](#): > > Halley’s last appearance was a disappointment. But the debris field still produces wonderful meteor shows. My dottor and I were 40 km offshore on top of a dive boat staying overnight in swags. > **[Great Barrier Reef & Fitzroy Island Tours - OFFICIAL WEBSITE](https://sunlover.com.au/)** > > Experience Great Barrier Reef tours with Sunlover. Explore our award-winning tours, including Moore Reef pontoon & Fitzroy Island. No idea that were being served up a spectacular meteor shower. Wasn’t planned …just coincidence but wow what a treat. No ambient light or moon and the Magellenic Clouds were very evident ---
**Author:** ![MacDoc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/macdoc/32/18696_2.png) [@MacDoc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacDoc)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2026, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/potentially-great-comet-on-its-way/1026799/16 "2026-01-18T20:55:20Z")
> [@3AxisCtrl](#): > > That was my thought, too. I was on the South Island of New Zealand, weather was consistently clear, and comet McNaught was beyond spectacular - a once-in-a-lifetime spectacle. That photo in your link is just how it looked to the naked eye. > > So I don’t deserve another Great comet - but maybe it will happen anyway. The photo doesn’t even do it justice. The diaphenous tail spread far over the dark S Atlantic just above the horizon…truly astonishing and I had no idea it was coming. Friend just waltzed in and said “seen the comet” …whaaaat!!! ☄ ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2026, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/potentially-great-comet-on-its-way/1026799/17 "2026-01-18T21:25:35Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > McNaught / Lovejoy / Hale-Bopp and Ikeya–Seki were all decades ago. Even those werent great compared to the glory that was early Halleys comet- brighter than Venus, could be seen in the daytime. Even Hale-Bopp was more like a fuzzy star with a small tail. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2026, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/potentially-great-comet-on-its-way/1026799/18 "2026-01-19T20:22:03Z")
What ever happened to that 3i/Atlas that was near the orbit of Mars, anyway? ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2026, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/potentially-great-comet-on-its-way/1026799/19 "2026-01-19T20:25:09Z")
It did what comets do- orbit the sun and disappear back to whence they came. It never became a naked-eye object, and the hype was overhyped. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2026, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/potentially-great-comet-on-its-way/1026799/20 "2026-01-19T20:30:25Z")
I think Hale-Bopp was more impressive than you do. Even my folks could see it in the light-polluted skies of Silver Spring, MD. My photo (on film!), from Organ Pipe: [![Imgur](https://live.staticflickr.com/3052/2395806799_7af735c0a3_b.jpg "HALEBOPP1") ](https://www.flickr.com/photos/11822576@N08/2395806799/) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/potentially-great-comet-on-its-way/1026799.md?page=2)