For any Cougar stargazers wanting to see something bright and colorful this next month, have no fear, Lovejoy is here.

C/2014 Q2, or “Lovejoy,” is a long-period comet that is close enough within our solar system that it is viewable with a pair of binoculars.

“It’s bright, which is very rare,” said Michael Allen, WSU astronomy professor. “You only see one every few years if you’re lucky.”

The comet, characterized by its greenish color, recently passed the Pleiades, a star cluster visible to the naked eye.

Allen suggested looking past the star cluster to track down the comet. He also said a star map website such as skyandtelescope.com would be useful to locate the comet.

Lovejoy should be visible by binoculars for most of February. By March, it will likely take a telescope to view.

A comet such as Lovejoy is rare because it is long-period, meaning that its appearances in our solar system are several thousand years apart.

Allen said Lovejoy will likely not show up again for another 8,000 to 11,000 years.

Reporting by Matthew Brunstetter