One of the brightest comets seen in this century can be viewed in the night and early morning sky, beginning tonight.

Comet Hyakutake, named after Yuji Hyakutake, the Japanese amateur astronomer who discovered it, will best be seen March 20-28. The last opportunity to see the comet will be April 27.

"It looks like a faint, fuzzy ball with a tail," said Flandrau Planetarium Outreach Coordinator Michael Terenzoni.

"If you want to see it, you should go out of town where there are no lights," Terenzoni said.

Comet Hyakutake is near the constellation Libra between the stars Antares, which is just below the handle of the big dipper, and Spica, which is in the constellation Virgo.

The comet is 14 million miles from Earth now, and Monday it will be 9.3 million miles from Earth.

Monday night the comet can be viewed from the University of Arizona Mall when all Mall lights are turned off.

Flandrau Science Center will have comet-viewing near Marana for $25 per person Sunday. The trip includes a presentation, bus trip to the observation site and telescopes and binoculars to use for viewing.

For updated comet viewing information, call the Flandrau Science Center Astronomy Newsline at 621-4310.