Green comet Lulin visible in southeast night sky

Tonight's your chance to see green Comet Lulin on its closest approach to Earth for, well, maybe forever. In dark locations, you can see this unusual object with the naked eye. In the city, binoculars are all that's needed.

Lulin is releasing gases that glow green when illuminated by sunlight in space. The comet appears to have two tails, one on each side, although it's an illusion caused by our viewing angle. In addition, Comet Lulin is traveling backward around the sun, in the opposite direction of the planets. Because of this, it appears to move in relation to the stars while you watch, something you don't get to see very often.

Tonight the comet will be in opposition to the sun - directly across from it - which may make Lulin brighter than usual. Around 9 p.m., look high in the southeast sky for big, bright Saturn. Comet Lulin will be a fuzzy smudge slightly above and to the right of the planet.

If you miss it tonight, Lulin will still be visible the rest of the week, but moonlight will interfere with it after Sunday. And if you miss it altogether, you could be out of luck. Astronomers aren't sure Lulin will ever reappear in the inner solar system.