A rare comet only seen from earth every 71 years is set to blaze across Australia's night sky.
The Devil Comet will be a "special treat" for astronomy lovers this April, according to Australian National University astrophysicist Brad Tucker.
"It's always nice to see these things, they are rare," he said.
"Comets are really hard to predict how big and bright they get. With this one potentially looking slightly weird it's definitely a unique sight."
It can already be seen in the northern hemisphere but the countdown is on for Australians to catch a glimpse.
Here's everything you need to know about the Devil Comet.
What is the Devil Comet?
The comet 12P/Pons-Brooks was nicknamed the Devil Comet due to it having two gas streams instead of one, Dr Tucker said.
"As the frozen, rocky ball goes around the sun the ice heats up, it sublimates - turns to gas - and then the sun blows that gas off producing a tail," he said.
"But with this one, you also get these eruptions of ice and gas that come off the comet's body and produces a second stream of gas which can sometimes make it look like horns."
The comet has only been seen from Earth four times since its official discovery but it's believed it was seen in the mid-1700s before it was discovered.
How and when to see it in Australia
Dr Tucker said the best time to see the Devil Comet in Australia was on and after Anzac Day, April 25, with binoculars and telescopes the best chance at seeing the details.
"As the sun sets in the west in the evening, look out towards the west and there should hopefully be this kind of green, fuzzy blob that you can make out with your eyes," he said.
"You really want a nice clear view and as dark as possible to the west - so if you live in Sydney, Western Sydney and on the outskirts will have better views than the east.
"Obviously rural locations are pretty good and rural towns because they're relatively dark and have pretty good views of the sky on the horizon."
