Several comets will pass relatively close to Earth in 2026, but there is no single “doomsday” comet heading for a dangerous near‑miss; current passes are routine astronomical events observable with telescopes or binoculars.

Next notable comet passes

  • Comet C/2024 E1 (Wierzchos) will make its closest approach to Earth on February 17, 2026 , and should be visible mainly from the Southern Hemisphere around that time.
  • Periodic comet 24P/Schaumasse already made its 2026 closest approach on January 4, 2026 , and is observable from both hemispheres with suitable equipment.
  • Comet 88P/Howell comes nearest on October 10, 2026 , but will likely be quite faint and mainly a target for serious observers in the Southern Hemisphere.
  • The standout event is C/2025 R3 (PanSTARRS) , which is expected to pass closest to Earth on April 26, 2026 , coming to about 45.5 million miles (73.2 million km) away and potentially becoming bright enough to see with the naked eye under dark skies.
  • Short‑period comet 10P/Tempel 2 will swing by with its closest approach on August 3, 2026 , and could be visible from both hemispheres, likely as a modest binocular object.

Safety and “doomsday” worries

  • None of the currently tracked 2026 comets is on a collision course with Earth; “closest approach” in astronomy usually still means tens of millions of kilometers away.
  • Space‑agency and professional surveys constantly monitor comets and asteroids, and any object with an unusual risk profile would be widely reported by scientific and mainstream outlets. There are no such warnings associated with the 2026 comets.

Quick HTML table of 2026 comet passes

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Comet Closest to Earth Approx. brightness / notes Best viewing regions
C/2024 E1 (Wierzchos) Feb 17, 2026About mag 8–9; needs binoculars or small telescopeSouthern Hemisphere near perihelion; both hemispheres near closest approach
24P/Schaumasse Jan 4, 2026About mag 9–10; telescopic objectBoth hemispheres
88P/Howell Oct 10, 2026Faint (around mag 15 at closest); mainly for serious observersSouthern Hemisphere
C/2025 R3 (PanSTARRS) Apr 26, 2026May reach mag 6 or even around 3–4; best candidate for casual skywatchersNorthern Hemisphere before Apr 19; Southern Hemisphere after
10P/Tempel 2 Aug 3, 2026Could reach about mag 7; binocular targetBoth hemispheres
Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.