7 Day Weather and Astronomy Forecast for Macon and Middle Georgia (2/16-2/22)

Expect less rain this week than last week, and high temperatures reaching all the way up to 80, according to the National Weather Service. While there aren't many very interesting astronomical events of note above at this time, skygazers can enjoy the Mark Smith Planetarium to see views from around the universe. The following is the day-by-day weather forecast for this week in the heart of Georgia.

Day-by-Day Weather Forecast

MONDAY, February 16th

Patchy fog to start the morning (before 9 a.m.) with a high temperature near 68. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph and possibly up to 15 mph.

Monday Night

Mostly clear skies with a low temperature around 42.

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TUESDAY, February 17th

Mostly sunny skies with a high temperature near 69.

Tuesday Night

Mostly cloudy, with a low temperature around 51.

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WEDNESDAY, February 18th

Mostly cloudy skies with a high temperature near 72.

Wednesday Night

20% chance of showers after 1 a.m. Mostly cloudy skies with a low temperature around 57.

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THURSDAY, February 19th

40% chance of showers before 1 p.m. Mostly cloudy skies, with a high temperature near 78.

Thursday Night

20% chance of showers after 1 a.m. Mostly cloudy skies with a low temperature around 61.

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FRIDAY, February 20th

50% chance of showers. Mostly cloudy skies with a high temperature near 80.

Friday Night

40% chance of showers. Mostly cloudy skies, with a low temperature of around 60.

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SATURDAY, February 21st

50% chance of showers. Mostly cloudy skies with a high temperature near 77.

Saturday Night

30% chance of showers. Mostly cloudy skies with a low temperature around 51.

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SUNDAY, February 22nd

50% chance of showers. Partly sunny skies and a high temperature around 65. 

Sunday Night

Clear to partly cloudy skies with a low temperature of around 38. Wind gusts up to 10 mph.

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ASTRONOMY IN MIDDLE GEORGIA

While there are not many grand celestial events to view in our skies at the current time, you can view the stars and planets visible from Middle Georgia, as well as views across the universe, in comfort inside the 40-foot-diameter Mark Smith Planetarium at Macon's Museum of Arts and Sciences. Skywatchers lie back in 118 theater-style tilted seats while watching images on the dome planetarium, which is lit by an electronically automated image projection system. The planetarium's current telescope, a Konica Minolta MS-10, was installed in 1989, and the planetarium opened in 1965. Visitors can enjoy the planetarium's Sky Over Macon program, which lets you view the constellations and planets visible from Middle Georgia, with updates each week for the most current/upcoming celestial events. The program educates both first-time stargazers and experienced astronomers. On Fridays after Sky Over Macon programs, the actual night sky can be viewed on various telescopes, with one offering 100 times magnification of the skies above us. The Mark Smith Planetarium is open Fridays when the skies are clear, from November through March, from 8 to 10 p.m., and from April through October, from sunset until 10 p.m. Admission is free, although donations are appreciated, according to the planetarium.