DECEMBER HIGHLIGHTS

Comet 46P/Wirtanen makes its closest approach to the Sun and Earth this month, possibly reaching 4th magnitude. Best viewed in the late evening it starts the month high in Cetus and heads north, roughly following the border between Cetus and Eridanus. On 15-17 December it passes between the Hyades and Pleiades star clusters in Taurus, when it is expected to be at its brightest. Wirtanen moves quickly into Auriga, and on 23 December will be just 1° from the bright star Capella.