How to See the Green Christmas Comet in West Michigan This Week
Ruldolph's arch rival out for a test run?
Nope.
It's Comet Wirtanen, the green Christmas comet, and it's making one of the closest comet flybys in decades.
The visibility of Comet Wirtanen is peaking this week. The green comet was at its closest on Sunday night and will gradually fade throughout the week. It could be visible with the naked eye, but binoculars or a telescope may be necessary especially as the week goes on.
NASA says 46P/Wirtanen (the comet's official name) will make one of the 10 closest flybys of any comet in 70 years. At 7.1 million miles away, it's also the closest the Christmas comet has been in centuries or will be for centuries more.
In The Sky says the comet will be visible from Grand Rapids starting at 6:20 p.m. at 30° above the eastern horizon. It will reach its highest point at 10:45 p.m. at 68° above the southern horizon and will gradually move to 17° above the western horizon until it fades at 4:29 a.m. Check viewing information for any location.