It may not be quite the 'Comet of the Century' predicted to light up the sky later this year, but it could still be spectacular.
A comet that shines as brightly as the stars of the Big Dipper will pass in front of the Earth in March.
The Comet Pan-Starrs will pass through our solar system at about 100 million miles from the Earth, Nasa scientists have said.
Above: how to spot the comet
How comets react to the sun is difficult to predict. Researchers think it may either fall apart - and put on a short, "dazzling" show - or else slowly combust, producing a long bright tail in the process.
Either way the comet looks set to dazzle astronomers - and possibly anyone looking at the night sky with the naked eye - when it completes its journey from the outer reaches of the solar system.
"Because of its small distance from the sun, Pan-Starrs should be very active, producing a lot of dust and therefore a nice dust tail," said astronomer Matthew Knight of the Lowell Observatory in a release.
The comet was discovered in June 2011 by the Panoramic Survey Telescope & Rapid Response System.
Meanwhile the Comet Ison is expected to shine even more brightly when it passes close to the Sun in November.