At a Glance

The comet will make its closest pass to Earth on Sunday, Dec. 16.While it's the brightest comet of 2018, it's not necessarily bright enough to see with the naked eye.Sunday's flyby will be the comet's closest approach to Earth since the 1950s.

The year's brightest comet will sling past Earth this week, offering stargazers with binoculars or a telescope one final 2018 celestial show.

Comet 46P/Wirtanen willbuzz by Earth in its closest approach at on Sunday, Space.com reports.

At7.1 million miles away —30 times the moon's distance — the flyby will be the 10th-closest by a comet in modern times.

And while it's relatively close, it may not be close enough to be visible with the naked eye.

EarthSky reports that Sunday's approach is projected to reach a magnitude of 3.5 to 6, which couldbe just bright enough .

On the stellar magnitude scale, the sun registers at minus 26.74 and a full moon at minus 12.74. The naked eye limit is listed as a 6, so the lower the number, the brighter it appears.

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However, using binoculars or a telescope will give you a great view of the comet, especially at a distance from city lights with clear skies.

While it's still a little early for an accurate forecast, the greatest odds for mainly clear skies will be in parts of thePlains where high pressure is expected to be in place, says weather.com meteorologist Chris Dolce. Conditions on the East Coast and West Coast will depend on the timing of weather systems that may affect those regions this weekend, but it's too early for details.

The comet passes Earth every and is one of three comets discovered by Carl Wirtanen in 1948 at the Lick Observatory in California. Sunday's flyby will be the closest since the 1950s, according to Space.com.

During the comet's November approach, astronomers were able to use special filters to record cyanogen gases spinning off of the comet, creating a spectacular visual.

Led by Tony Farnham, a team of astronomers was able to record the spin of 46P/Wirtanen and calculate the comet has a rotation period — how long it takes for the comet to complete one rotation — , according to the University of Maryland.