Comet Lovejoy (C/2014 Q2), optical image. This long-period comet was discovered on 17th August 2014 by Terry Lovejoy. Comets are icy bodies from the outer solar system that boil and form a bright tail of gas and dust as they approach the Sun. Comet Lovejoy reached its closest approach to the Sun on 30th January 2015. The comet has a green head of diatomic carbon (C2) and a blue tail of ionised gas. Photographed on 20th January 2015.