C/2014 Q2 (Lovejoy) is a long-period
comet discovered in 2014 by Australian astronomer
Terry Lovejoy using a 0.2-meter (8 in)
Schmidt–Cassegrain telescope. It was discovered at
apparent magnitude 15 in the southern constellation of
Puppis, and is the fifth comet discovered by Lovejoy. Its blue-green glow is the result of organic molecules and water released by the comet fluorescing under the harsh UV and optical light of the sun as it passes through space.
Photograph: John Vermette