Five Things to Know Today, Oct. 5

Welcome to Wednesday. Here are some things to know as you head over the hump.

The weather: Let's hear it for another warm and sunny day -- you'll be pining for them in January. The high will be about 84, and the low tonight around 51 degrees.

Gas prices: About the same as yesterday. The national average for a gallon of regular is $3.408, and in Georgia, it's $3.258, according to AAA. Prices reported to www.georgiagasprices.com for Lilburn in the past 24 hours ranged from $3.17 (at Shell, 915 Indian Trail Lilburn Rd at Dickens Road) to $3.29 (at Citgo, 4967 Lawrenceville Highway at Holly Ridge Drive).

Bring an apple: It's World Teachers Day, a time to support and honor the teachers in our lives and those who will educate the generations after us. It was started by UNESCO in 1994 and continues today every Oct. 5.

One last fight: Retreating Confederate forces under Gen. John Bell Hood tried one last time to dislodge General William T. Sherman's Union troops, who had captured Atlanta in September 1864. Hood didn't have the strength to attack the Union forces directly but tried to interrupt their supplies that came by rail from Chattanooga. On Oct. 5, 1864, the Confederates attacked the Union depot at Allatoona Pass near today's Lake Allatoona, but could not take the stronghold. Gen. Hood's army retreated into Alabama and the Union kept Atlanta.

Twinkle, twinkle, little demon: It's a good night to look for Algol, otherwise known as the "demon star", in the constellation Perseus. It's thought to have earned that name because it grows darker and lighter in a regular cycle, about every three days or so. The star is actually an arrangment of stars that circle each other, alternately blocking some of the light or letting it shine fully towards earth. The brightness peaks tonight. Have a look and tell us what you think.