Michigan may catch a glimpse of the brightest comet of the year Sunday

If the skies are in a good mood Sunday night, Michiganders may catch a glimpse of this year's brightest comet.

The rock-dust-frozen-gas snowball is on a trajectory that will send it just 7.2 million miles away from earth, according to the AP.

And that's pretty close as far as comets go — provided the fickle Michigan skies cooperate.

"Clear skies in December in Michigan’s not always a sure bet, that’s for sure,” said Steve Considine, meteorologist with the National Weather Service.

But this may be a lucky break. Projections show skies clearing during the afternoon and evening in metro Detroit, Considine said. The further north you go, up toward Flint and Saginaw, the better your chances of escaping cloud cover.

In Detroit, the comet would first be visible at around 6:11 p.m., according to observatory website In-The-Sky, and reach its highest point in the sky at about 10:35 p.m. It will fade past the horizon by 4:18 a.m.

Considine put the chances of clear skies at about 60 percent. 

There’s a catch, though: Light pollution. Even in areas with clear skies, it could be tough to spot the comet, he added.

Called 46P/Wirtanen, it sounds more like a car than a natural phenomenon. It's actually named for Carl A. Wirtanen, who first discovered it in 1948.

You're looking for what appears to be an extra-large star that spreads light over a large area, but isn't very bright — think of the light from your floor lamp.

If you're struggling, the University of Maryland provides a website to find the comet in relation to the stars.

So head to a less-populated area, preferably further north, and sit back. Relax. You might see something special twinkling in the sky.

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