Thunderstorms are expected to drown out one of the most exciting evenings for local astronomers.

Suzanne Willis, interim chair for the Department of Physics, said Comet Lulin, discovered in July of 2007, will be most visible to the naked eye tonight between the hours of 8 and 10 p.m.

Willis said Lulin, which is located near the orbit of Saturn, will make its nearest pass by earth before leaving our range of visibility for good. Sadly for the Midwest region, Lulin will not be easily detectable through the storms this evening.

“Lulin is now observable to us for the first time, and it will be the last in a matter of a few weeks,” Willis said. “Comets are on very long orbits often for periods of 100 years, Halley’s Comet included.”

Visibility of Comet Lulin is best achieved with a very dark sky and binoculars to enhance details of the comet, Willis said.

According to National Geographic Daily News, Lulin could be on its first pass by the sun.

“As the object is exposed to the sun’s heat for the first time, its ices will vaporize, possibly causing the comet to brighten rapidly or even break apart,” the Daily News reported.

The Recreation Services Outing Centre, which planned to hold an astronomy outing to observe the comet, has canceled its event.

Dan Swan, assistant director of Outdoor Adventures, said although the center has no plans to reschedule the event, students should visit the observatory once the storms pass.

“The comet may be seen through a telescope for the next few weeks,” Swan said. “Students should be encouraged to visit the observatory for this rare event. It would be a great experience.”

Junior communications major Josh Wilber is currently enrolled in an elementary astronomy course. Wilber said visiting the observatory was a unique experience, and he would gladly go again.

“I was up there two days ago, and it was very cool,” Wilber said. “The guys in the observatory didn’t mention anything about Comet Lulin, but I would really like to check it out.”