Comet Lovejoy (C/2014 Q2) is expected to shine brightly into the New Year, providing skygazers with the incredible sight of a glowing green comet in the night sky. According to National Geographic, Lovejoy was discovered only this past August, and glows green due to molecules that glow when hit by the sun's solar wind.

The comet was named after its founder, Australian astronomer Terry Lovejoy, who first spotted the comet using a common backyard telescope with only an eight-inch long mirror. He was able to spot the comet while it was still a very faint 15th magnitude.

It wasn't expected to be able to be viewed by the naked eye until January or February 2015, but the comet's brightness has shot up hundreds of times since this past summer. Right now it has brightened to a magnitude of 5, which means that it has technically reached naked-eye levels already. With the right binoculars, it should show up as a distinct hazy ball.

ABC News reports that Lovejoy is currently moving across the sky near the Orion constellation, making it even easier to find. It is expected to make its closest approach to earth in early January - with a distance of some 44 million miles away - providing the best viewing.

Furthermore, Astronomy Magazine reports that it will travel at three degrees per day at its peak, meaning it will noticeably move.

In order to best view Lovejoy, National Geographic recommends that you use binoculars. Wait until near or after local midnight for the comet to rise in the southeastern sky, and hunt for it to the lower right of the brightest star in the sky, Sirius. If seen, it should provide a beautiful experience as well as a pretty photo opportunity.