Night Sky Lovers can celebrate the new year by welcoming the annual January meteor shower, the Quadrantids. Reporter Heather Clisby has the details…
Every January, earthlings of the Northern Hemisphere are treated to the Quadrantids Meteor Shower. Named for a forgotten constellation, the shower was first observed by Italian Antonio Brucalassi in 1825.
The Quadrantid shower will radiate from the northern sky but appear in all parts of the sky. To locate, note that the radiant point of the Quadrantid shower makes an approximate right angle with the Big Dipper and the bright star, Arcturus.
Ideal viewing is likely late tonight, January 3, until early morning tomorrow, January 4, especially after 2 am. Luckily, there will be no moon in the pre-dawn hours this year, thus improving the view. Unlike other meteor showers, the Quadrantids have a narrow peak range so some sleepless vigilance is required.
While not as long or intense as other meteor showers, the Quadrantids have been known to produce 50-100 meteors in moonless sky. As with all meteor showers and celestial matters, predictions are Earthlings’ collective guess and not a universal guarantee.
