5Upper IntermediateGeneralScience

A New Comet Could Soon Be Visible in Daylight

Astronomers have discovered a new comet called MAPS that is heading very close to the Sun. If it survives the extreme heat, it could become bright enough to see during the day in April 2026.

2 min readLevel 5February 6, 2026

Vocabulary

Study these words before reading the article. Click the audio button to hear pronunciation.

fragment

/ˈfræɡmənt/

noun

A small piece that has broken off from something larger

“Scientists believe the comet is a fragment of a much larger object that broke apart long ago.”

spectacular

/spekˈtækjʊlər/

adjective

Very impressive and exciting to look at

“The sunset over the ocean was absolutely spectacular last evening.”

disintegrate

/dɪsˈɪntɪɡreɪt/

verb

To break into very small pieces and be destroyed completely

“The old building began to disintegrate after years of neglect and bad weather.”

intense

/ɪnˈtens/

adjective

Very strong or extreme in degree or strength

“The intense summer heat made it difficult to spend time outdoors.”

promising

/ˈprɒmɪsɪŋ/

adjective

Showing signs that something good is likely to happen

“The early results of the experiment were very promising for the research team.”

observe

/əbˈzɜːv/

verb

To watch something carefully, especially for scientific purposes

“Astronomers will observe the comet closely as it approaches the Sun.”

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Article

Click on any underlined word to see its definition. Highlighted words are from the vocabulary section.

A newly discovered comet has astronomers around the world feeling excited. The comet, named C/2026 A1 (MAPS), was spotted on January 13 this year. Four amateur astronomers found it using a telescope in Chile's Atacama Desert. It belongs to a rare family of comets called Kreutz sungrazers. These spectacular comets travel extremely close to the Sun on their journey through space.

Comet MAPS is already breaking records. When it was discovered, it was farther from the Sun than any sungrazer found before. Scientists believe this means it could be a large fragment of an ancient comet. In early April, it will pass within just 120,000 kilometers of the Sun's surface. If the comet survives this close approach, it could become incredibly bright.

Kreutz sungrazers are fragments of a giant comet that broke apart thousands of years ago. Over the centuries, these pieces have produced some of history's brightest comets. The Great Comet of 1882 was a hundred times brighter than the full Moon. Another famous sungrazer in 1965 was easily visible during the daytime. However, many sungrazers simply disintegrate because of the Sun's intense heat and gravity.

The big question is whether Comet MAPS will survive or fall apart. Recent observations show it is steadily getting brighter, which is a promising sign. If it holds together, it could put on a spectacular show in April. Southern Hemisphere observers would have the best views after the comet passes the Sun. For now, astronomers and skygazers around the world can only watch and wait.

Comprehension Quiz

Test your understanding of the article with these multiple-choice questions.

1
When was Comet MAPS discovered?
2
What makes Comet MAPS a record-breaking discovery?
3
What is a Kreutz sungrazer?
4
What is the main risk for Comet MAPS as it approaches the Sun?
5
What sign suggests that Comet MAPS might survive its journey past the Sun?

Discussion

Answer these comprehension questions about the article.

1
What is the name of the newly discovered comet, and when was it found?
2
Why is Comet MAPS considered special compared to other Kreutz sungrazers?
3
What could happen to the comet when it passes close to the Sun in April?
4
How bright were some famous Kreutz sungrazers in the past?
5
Why would observers in the Southern Hemisphere have better views of the comet?

Further Discussion

Share your opinions on these open-ended questions.

1
Have you ever seen a comet or a shooting star? What was the experience like?
2
If you could travel anywhere in the world to watch this comet, where would you go and why?
3
Do you think space exploration and astronomy are important? Why or why not?
4
What would you do if you discovered something new in space? How would you feel?
5
Some people believe comets bring good or bad luck. What do you think about such beliefs?