C/2024 E1 Wierzchos


Closest to Sun:    2026 Jan 20  at 0.56AU
Closest to Earth:  2026 Feb 17 at 1.01AU
Maximum magnitude: 6.5 in January 2026
Orbital Period: N/A dynamically new

Polish astronomer Kacper Wierzchos discovered this Oort Cloud comet on March 3, 2024, during the course of the Mt Lemmon survey.
The comet will pass within 0.56 AU of the Sun on January 20, 2026, between the orbits of Mercury and Venus.
At this time, it may reach a magnitude of 6, making it easily visible with binoculars for observers situated in the southern hemisphere.
The comet is nearest the Earth at 1.01AU during mid-February 2026.
As this is the comets first and only visit to the inner solar system, its behaviour is uncertain. It could appear brighter or fainter than this forecast.

During October to November 2025,
it will be visible from the northern hemisphere, however those situated in northern regions of Australia may spot the comet brightening up from magnitude 13 to 10,
low in the north-western evening skies as it treks through Hercules and Ophiuchus.
 

During December 2025,
the comet will be too close to the Sun for observation as it enters solar conjunction.
However, the SOHO spacecraft is in a good position to monitor the comet.
It enters the field of view of the SOHO LASCO C3 imager on the afternoon of December 22 at the 10 o’clock position, shining at approximately magnitude 9.0.
It remains in the C3 field of view for the next 2 weeks, departing on the morning of January 5, at the 7 o’clock position.
Hopefully the comet has brightened to magnitude 7.5. Its brightness will give us a forecast for its reappearance during late January 2026.
 

During January 2026,
the comet emerges from evening twilight, brightening from magnitude 7.0 to 6.0 as it traverses the constellations of Sagittarius, Microscopium and Grus
and best observed from the southern hemisphere during the evening hours.
Initial reports are expected in mid-January, when the comet will be 16 degrees from the Sun in the southwestern evening sky about an hour after sunset.
Each night, viewing conditions gradually improve.
On perihelion day, January 20, the comet will be positioned 21 degrees from the Sun and observable under somewhat darker skies,
provided there is an unobstructed view of the southwestern evening horizon.
On January 24, the comet will be one degree south of Theta 1 and 2 Microscopii (magnitude 4.8 and 5.7), which can serve as comparison stars.
The comet is expected to shine at magnitude 6.0, with a well-developed dust tail 1-2 degrees long.
On January 25, the comet enters Grus and can be seen a degree southwest of Xi Gruis.
By January 31, the comets elongation has increased to 32 degrees, well situated in the southwestern evening sky
near the naked eye star pair Delta 1,2 Gruis, but full moon will interfere with viewing.
 

During February 2026,
the comet fades from magnitude 6.5 to 8.0 as it traverses the constellations of Grus, Phoenix, Sculptor, Fornax and Cetus.
It is best viewed from the southern hemisphere during early evening hours. There are plenty of deep sky rendezvous events this month to keep astrophotographers busy.
On February 1, the comet will be situated 1.5 degrees east of the naked eye star pair Delta 1,2 Gruis, but full moon will interfere with viewing.
On February 3, the comet will be 30’ east of magnitude 11 spiral galaxy NGC 7412.
On February 5, astrophotographers take note because the comet makes a close rendezvous with the famous Grus Galaxy trio NGC 7582,7590,7599.
The comet appearing 20’ northwest of the group. Moonlight will no longer be a hindrance.
The following evening on February 6, it will be 16’ east of a tightly wound spiral galaxy IC 5325 in Phoenix.
Another tremendous rendezvous occurs on the night of February 10, when the now magnitude 7 comet situates 50’ north of the splendid Magellanic barred spiral galaxy NGC 55 in Sculptor.
Don’t miss this opportunity!
On February 13, astrophotographers with wide field equipment can capture the comet along with the splendid face-on spiral galaxy NGC 300 in Sculptor, situated about 3 degrees to the southeast.
On February 16, the comet is near the faint galaxy pair NGC 439 and 441.
On February 18, it will be 1.4 degrees west of magnitude 10 barred spiral NGC 610.
By February 25, moonlight starts to interfere with viewing, when the now magnitude 8 comet situates 1.4 degree north of magnitude 11 spiral galaxy NGC 908 in Cetus.
 

During March 2026,
the comet fades from magnitude 8.0 to 10.5 as it moves through Cetus, Eridanus, and Taurus.
It's best seen in early evenings from the southern hemisphere, though northern viewers can now spot it too.
On March 1, the comet appears just south of the magnitude 4 star Pi Ceti, but moonlight will interfere with observations until the evening of March 7,
at which point the comet will be positioned 1.5 degrees north of Zeta Eridanii.
It enters Taurus on March 15 and will be 1 degree south of Nu Taurii on March 20.
Moonlight will start to interfere from March 24, when the now magnitude 10 comet situates about a degree south of Mu Taurii.
By months end, the now magnitude 10.5 comet will situate a few degrees south of the Hyades star cluster and Aldebaran (Alpha Taurii)
 

During April 2026,
the comet continues to fade from magnitude 10.5 to 12.5, trekking in an easterly direction through Orion and Taurus.
Notable deep sky rendezvous events occur on the nights of March 13-14 when the comet situates a degree north of star cluster pair NGC 1807 and 1817,
and then on the night of March 26 to 28, the comet situates within a degree south of the famous Crab Nebula M1 in Taurus.
This may be your last opportunity to say farewell to comet Wierzchoz, which has hopefully put on a fine show for us before departing to the cold depths of space, never to return.