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Every five-and-a-quarter years, a comet with a blueish-green tinge flies through the solar system close enough to be seen from Earth.

This weekend, it make its closest approach in more than 30 years - coming within 7.5 million miles of our planet.

Sadly, you won't be able to see it with the naked eye. But if you can lay your hands on a decent telescope (or perhaps even some binoculars) then you'll likely catch a glimpse .

It's named Comet 45P/Honda-Mrkos-Pajdušáková after the astronomers who discovered it in 1948 - Minoru Honda, Antonín Mrkos, and Ľudmila Pajdušáková.

And when it passes closest to Earth this weekend, it'll be travelling at a staggering 51,000mph.

Nicknamed the "New Year Comet" due to the fact it started its journey across northern hemisphere skies at the tail end of 2016, it'll miss our planet by about 7.7 million miles.

When is the best time to see the comet?

The green comet will be at its closest to the Earth at around 08.00 GMT on February 11, 2017.

Of course, this isn't the best time to see it because it'll be obscured by sunlight. In order to get the best look, we recommend heading out between 05.00 and 07.00 before the sun rises.

You'll be able to watch a live stream in the video player above from 03:00 on February 11.

(Image: NASA)

As ever, try and find a place away from other forms of light pollution - such as street lights or office buildings.

Also, beware of the bright moon which could also pose an issue for comet-spotters.

Of course, if you don't manage to see it this weekend, you'll get another opportunity in 5.25 years.