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 scheduled 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]
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Outlook
Dry high pressure will linger over the region through midweek. Another low-pressure system is then expected to develop to our west and bring widespread precipitation to the region for Thursday and Friday, possible finishing out with a wintry mix. As the low moves north of the forecast area on Saturday, a dry high pressure will return for the weekend.
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
Cloudy through mid morning, then gradual clearing, with a high near the upper 50s. Calm winds rising to come out of the southwest around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Tonight
Partly cloudy, with a low around 35. Calm winds.
Wednesday
Partly sunny, with a high near 55. Light winds out of the southeast.
Wednesday Night
A 50 percent chance of rain, mainly after 11pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 40. Light winds out of the southeast.
Thursday
Rain. High near 50. Chance of precipitation is 90%.
Thursday Night
Rain before 2am, then showers after 2am. Lows in the lower 40s. Chance of precipitation is 90%.
OTTO AREA FORECAST
Today
Cloudy through mid morning, then gradual clearing, with a high near 55. Calm winds rising to come out of the south in the afternoon.
Tonight
Partly cloudy, with a low around 35. Calm winds.
Wednesday
Partly sunny, with highs in the lower 50s. Light winds out of the southeast.
Wednesday Night
Rain likely, mainly after 5am. Cloudy, with a low around 40. Winds out of the southeast 3 to 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Thursday
Rain. High near 50. Chance of precipitation is 90%.
Thursday Night
Rain before 2am, then showers after 2am. Lows in the lower 40s. Chance of precipitation is 90%.
HIGHLANDS PLATEAU FORECAST
Today
Mostly sunny, with highs in the upper 40s. Light and variable winds shifting to come out of the south around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Tonight
Partly cloudy, with a low around 35. Winds out of the southwest around 5 mph.
Wednesday
Partly sunny, with a high near 45. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Wednesday Night
Rain likely, mainly after 5am. Mostly cloudy, with lows in the upper 30s. Winds out of the southeast 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Thursday
Rain. High near 45. Chance of precipitation is 90%.
Thursday Night
Rain before 2am, then showers after 2am. Low around 40. Chance of precipitation is 90%.
NANTAHALA AREA FORECAST
Today
Sunny, with a high near 55. Calm winds rising to 5 mph out of the southwest in the afternoon.
Tonight
Partly cloudy, with a low around 35. Winds out of the south around 5 mph.
Wednesday
Mostly sunny, with highs in the lower 50s. Winds out of the south 5 to 10 mph.
Wednesday Night
Rain likely, mainly after 5am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 40. Winds out of the southeast 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Thursday
Rain. Highs in the upper 40s. Chance of precipitation is 90%.
Thursday Night
Rain before 2am, then showers after 2am. Low around 40. Chance of precipitation is 90%.
Macon County Almanac for December 18, 2018
Highest Temperature 75°F in Highlands in 1924
Lowest Temperature 0°F at the Coweeta Experimental Station in 1953
Greatest Rainfall 3.70 inches in Highlands in 1915
Greatest Snowfall 7.0 inches in Highlands in 1916
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Published at 2:15 am on December 18, 2018
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