I heard about this before it's closest pass last Monday, but only getting around to posting about it now:

Unusual Green Comet Set to Pass Earth - "An odd, greenish backward-flying comet is zipping by Earth this month, as it takes its only trip toward the sun from the farthest edges of the solar system. The comet is called Lulin..."

"...its appearance — the greenish tinge may be hard for many to discern. The color comes from a type of carbon and cyanogen, a poisonous gas."

While all the planets and most of the other objects in the solar system circle the sun in one direction, Lulin circles the opposite way. And thanks to an optical illusion due to the comet and Earth effectively being in the same plane, from Earth it appears as if the comet's tail is in the front as the comet approaches Earth and the sun!

Green "Two-Tailed" Comet Arrives

Labels: Space