Comet Visible to Naked Eye From Dark Locations, Binoculars Offer Better Views
Comet 46P/Wirtanen has brightened to the point where it is now visible in the night sky to anyone with a reasonably dark sky away from the light pollution of city lights. Our problem will be a lack of clear skies until early Monday morning, then we will have a few days of clear skies at night before several days of cloudiness return.
For those who have no intention of trying to see it in the sky or cannot see it due to clouds, the Virtual telescope Project has an event schedules on their Youtube Channel. [LINK] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uT1ramHk6l0
Earth Sky has a reasonable article for novices to help locate the comet. [LINK]
For the more technically proficient (and those with computerized telescopes) the orbital elements and light curves are on Seiichi Yoshida's page for 46P/Wirtanen [LINK]
More sources of information:
Wikipedia [LINK]
IAU Minor Planet Center via the Internet Archive [LINK]
Outlook
Low pressure will gradually move northeast away from the region and off the mid-Atlantic coast late today. Drier air associated with broad high pressure will spread over the region and linger through midweek. Another low-pressure system is expected to impact our region towards the end of the week.
THREE DAY GFS FORECAST
This animated image shows a forecast of precipitation, air pressure and thickness level (cold-air damming) for three days in six-hour increments.
Green, Yellow, and Red indicate rain. Orange and Purple Indicate Freezing Rain or other freezing precipitation. Blue indicates snow.
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Weather Hazards
Hazardous weather is not expected today.
WEATHER FORECAST MAPS
Forecast maps for 7 am, 1 pm, and 7 pm.
[click on any image in this article to enlarge]
FRANKLIN AREA FORECAST
Today
Partly sunny, with a high near the lower 50s. Winds out of the northwest 5 to 10 mph. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph.
Tonight
Partly cloudy, with a low around 35. Winds out of the northwest around 5 mph becoming calm after midnight.
Monday
Sunny, with a high near the upper 50s. Calm wind early, then rising to come out of the northwest around 5 mph in the morning.
Monday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 30. Light winds out of the northwest.
Tuesday
Sunny, with a high near 55.
Tuesday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 30.
OTTO AREA FORECAST
Today
Partly sunny, with a high near the lower 50s. Winds out of the northwest 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
Tonight
Partly cloudy, with a low around 35. Winds out of the northwest around 5 to 10 mph.
Monday
Sunny, with a high in the upper 50s. Winds out of the northwest around 5 to 10 mph.
Monday Night
Clear, with a low around freezing. Winds out of the northwest 5 to 10 mph.
Tuesday
Sunny, with a high near 55.
Tuesday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around freezing.
HIGHLANDS PLATEAU FORECAST
Today
Patchy fog before 11am. Otherwise, partly sunny, with a high near 45. Winds out of the northwest 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
Tonight
Partly cloudy, with a low around 35. Breezy, with a wind of the northwest ranging from 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
Monday
Sunny, with a high near 50. Winds out of the northwest 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.
Monday Night
Clear, with a low around 35. Winds out of the northwest 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
Tuesday
Sunny, with a high in the upper 40s.
Tuesday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around freezing.
NANTAHALA AREA FORECAST
Today
Isolated showers are possible this afternoon. Patchy fog before 11am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a high near the upper 40s. Winds out of the northwest 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Tonight
Mostly cloudy, with a low around 35. Winds out of the northwest 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Monday
Sunny, with a high near 50. Winds out of the northwest 5 to 10 mph.
Monday Night
Clear, with a low around freezing. Winds out of the northwest 5 to 10 mph.
Tuesday
Sunny, with a high near the lower 50s.
Tuesday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around freezing.
Macon County Almanac for December 16, 2018
Highest Temperature 70°F at the Coweeta Experimental Station in 1971
Lowest Temperature 4°F in Franklin in 1963
Greatest Rainfall 2.48 inches in Highlands in 1982
Greatest Snowfall 1.5 inches in Highlands in 1932
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Published at 3:40 am on December 16, 2018
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