2015 Streaks In On Tail of Lovejoy, the New Year's Comet

Comet Lovejoy, called the New Year’s Comet and officially cataloged as 2014 Q2, will be brightest on Jan. 7. (Photo via NASA)

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Lovejoy – a newly discovered comet that has been dubbed the New Year’s Comet because it will shine brightly throughout most of January – is bringing in 2015 in spectacular fashion.

Spaceweather.com says viewing conditions are exceptional to see the comet that amatuer astronomer Terry Lovejoy discovered just before dawn on Aug. 17, 2007, from his rooftop observatory in Queensland, Australia.

Officially cataloged as 2014 Q2, or Q2 for short, Comet Lovejoy is currently shining at a magnitude of +5.0. To find it, look for a green fuzz-ball just below the belt of the constellation Orion. Conditions will only get better, with astronomers predicting the comet will more than double in brightness by mid-January 2015.

That the comet is rapidly intensifying is a happy New Year’s surprise.

Astronomers originally didn’t expect much dazzle from the comet and doubted it would be visible to the naked eye, Smithsonian magazine reports. But as it approaches the sun, it is burning brighter, the increased heat causing its ices to vaporize and release the gases and dust that make up the comet’s brilliant hazy head and faint tail.

Improved conditions mean that skywatchers can see the comet with the naked eye, and photographers can record it using only a camera. With small telescopes and binoculars, it should be visible during most of the month, NBC News said.

Lovejoy – the man, not the comet – is a prolific comet hunter. The New Year’s Comet is his fifth discovery, the most famous of which was the icy body that came to be known as the Great Christmas Comet of 2011 that Smithsonian magazine waxed “roared to life as it made a close pass by the sun in late December, becoming almost as bright as the planet Venus and putting on stunning displays for sky-watchers in the Southern Hemisphere.”

Earthsky.org says Comet Lovejoy will come closest to Earth on Jan. 7 – which isn’t actually that close. At its closest, it’ll be some 43.6 million miles away. The comet should burn brightest then. For perspective, Venus is about 25 million miles away from Earth.

2015’s Best Celestial Bets

Comet Lovejoy ushers in a full calendar of celestial events. Here are some more celestial spectacles to watch for in 2015 from NASA/SeaSky.org.

January

Quadrantids Meteor Shower: The first meteor shower of the year will be visible from Jan. 1-5, but will peak overnight on the 3rd and into the early hours of the 4th. This shower typically produces about 40 sightings per hour, but the full moon on the 5th will wash out all except for the brightest meteors.

February

Jupiter at Opposition: Feb. 6 is the best day of the year to view Jupiter, as it makes its closest approach to Earth and will be fully reflecting light from the sun. A good pair of binoculars or a telescope will be able to see Jupiter’s four largest moons: Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto.

Conjuncture of Venus and Mars: Just after sunset on Feb. 22, Venus and Mars will appear only half of a degree apart in the western sky.

March

Total Solar Eclipse: The sun’s corona will be visible around the moon when the total solar eclipse peaks on the morning of March 20.

April

Total Lunar Eclipse: This is the third event of the Total Lunar Eclipse tetrad. On April 4, the moon will spend nearly nine and a half hours in the penumbral or umbral phase, with just under five minutes as a total eclipse.

Lyrids Meteor Shower: The Lyrids – the remnants of Comet C/1861 G1 Thatcher – will be visible between the March 16-25, peaking with up to 20 meteors per hour overnight on the 22nd.

May

Eta Aquarids Meteor Shower: This long-running shower is composed of dusty remnants of the famed Halley’s Comet. It will be visible from April 19-May 28, but will peak overnight on May 5th with up to 30 sightings per hour. Unfortunately, the full moon from the 4th will wash out all but the brightest meteors.

» Want to make sure you remember these sensational celestial spectacles? Bookmark this page.

Saturn at Opposition: May 23 will be the best night of the year to view Saturn as it makes its closest approach and will be reflecting plenty of sunlight. A medium-range telescope is required to see Saturn’s rings and some of its largest and brightest moons.

July

Delta Aquarids Meteor Shower: The remnant of two different comets, Marsden and Kracht, this shower runs from July 12-Aug. 23, peaking overnight on July 28th and into the morning of the 29th. Normal sightings are in the 20-per-hour range, but a full moon on the 31st will wash out all but the brightest meteors.

August

Perseids Meteor Shower: Leftovers from the Swift-Tuttle comet, the Perseids are favorite among many skywatchers. Visible from July 17-Aug. 24, theywill peak overnight on Aug. 12 with 60 sightings per hour. The show should be amazing this year with a new moon on the 14th making for dark skies.

September

Neptune at Opposition: Sept. 1 will be the best day of the year to view Neptune, as it makes its closest approach.More experienced astronomers with large, high-powered telescopes may be able to see some details of the eighth planet, but those using smaller equipment will see only a small blue speck.

Partial Solar Eclipse: This crescent-shaped partial solar eclipse will be peak over Antarctica on Sept. 13, though it will be visible to those living in southern African countries as well. Remember: Do not look at the sun directly without appropriate eye protection.

Total Lunar Eclipse: The 2014-2015 Total Lunar Eclipse tetrad concludes the night of Sept. 28 with a total lunar eclipse lasting more than hour.It ]will be visible to those living in North America, South America, Europe, Africa, and some portions of Asia.

October

Draconids Meteor Shower: Produced by the dusty remnants of comet 21P Giacobini-Zinner, the Draconids will be visible Oct. 6-10 and peak overnight on the 8th. This is a small shower, with about 10 sightings per hour. The second quarter moon will wash out many of the meteors, though the brightest may still be visible.

Uranus at Opposition: Oct. 11 will be the best night of the year to view Uranus, as it makes its closest approach. Only those with large, high-powered telescopes may be able to see some details of this amazing planet. Individuals using smaller equipment will only be able to see it as a small teal dot.

Orionids Meteor Shower: Like the Eta Aquarids, this shower is also made up of remnants from the famed Halley’s Comet. The shower runs from Oct. 2-Nov. 7, peaking overnight onOc. 22 with up to 20 sightings per hour. The first quarter moon will set by midnight, creating more favorable conditions for viewing the shower.

Conjuncture of Venus and Jupiter: Venus and Jupiter are two of the brightest planets in the sky and will be one degree away from each other on the night of Oct. 26. They will be best viewed before sunrise, looking into the eastern sky.

Conjuncture of Venus, Mars, and Jupiter: Building off of the event with Venus and Jupiter two nights before, Mars will join and create a triangle with the other planets, seen just one degree apart. The best time to view this will be just before sunrise on Oct. 28, looking into the eastern sky.

November

Taurids Meteor Shower: This is a small shower produced by dust from Asteroid 2004 TG10. It has an extremely long span from Sept. 7-Dec. 10. It will peak overnight on the Nov. 5th with about 5-10 sightings per hour. The meteors will also be competing with light from the second quarter moon, which will likely wash out all but the brightest meteors.

Leonids Meteor Shower: The Leonids are created by remnants of comet Tempel-Tuttle. Look for meteors from Nov. 6-30, with the best night for viewing overnight on the 17th and early on the 18th, with about 15 sightings per hours. The best time to view the Leonids is after midnight, once the first quarter moon has set.

December

Conjuncture of the Moon and Venus: Earth’s moon and Venus will appear to be only two degrees away from one another in the early morning hours of Dec. 7. For the best viewing, look at the eastern sky right before sunrise.

Geminids Meteor Shower: The Geminids, produced from the remnants of a small asteroid named 3200 Phaethon, is another perennial favorite among skywatchers. It’s visible from Dec. 7-17, peaking overnight on th 13th and early in the morning of the 14th with up to 120 sightings per hour. The meteors will appear multicolored, which gives an added bonus to the already spectacular show. The best time to view it will be after midnight, when the moon has set and conditions are darker.

Ursids Meteor Shower: The final meteor shower of the year is caused by remnants of the comet Tuttle, and runs from Dec. 16-25, peaking overnight on the 22nd with about 10 sightings per hour. A full moon on the 25th will wash out all but the brightest meteor