Will you see the meteor shower this weekend?
Sky map of the Quadrantid meteor shower. Image credit: NASA
Friday, January 2, 2009.
The Quadrantid meteor shower rates as a major shower – but few people ever see it.
This meteor shower makes its best showing before dawn this weekend, as seen from middle and far northern latitudes. The Quadrantids are named for an extinct 19th century constellation – Quadrans Muralis, the Wall Quadrant.
Meteor showers are named from the constellations from which they appear to radiate. But the constellation boundaries have been redrawn since the 19th century. Quadrans Muralis is gone. The Quadrantids radiant now lies on the borders of the constellations Draco, Hercules and Bootes.
You don’t have to locate the radiant to watch the meteor shower. But the radiant does have to be fairly high in your sky before you can see these meteors. The Quadrantid radiant isn’t up until well after midnight. It’ll be highest just before dawn.
The Quadrantids have a sharp peak that lasts only an hour or two. The peak has to happen while the Quadrantid radiant is high in your sky, or you won’t see the maximum number of perhaps 60 meteors per hour. If you want to try your luck, find a dark, open sky in the wee hours before dawn this weekend – and look northward for the streaking Quadrantid meteors.
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(\-/) (. .) (___)I live on the coast of North Carolina. Where should I be looking to see the meteor shower and what time would be the best to see it?
hey..
big fan…
north wales has some good views could you keep me updated on when there will be meteor showers please?
would be much appreciated..
thanks
i live in california and im wondering if i will be able to see the Quadrantid meteor shower… if so where will i need to gaze?
Andy, Dan, Eric,
The forecast calls for the Quadrantids to put out the greatest number of meteors in the wee hours before dawn on January 3. If the weather allows you to enjoy the comfort of a reclining lawn chair, lie down with your feet pointing in a north or north-northeast direction. For a list of this year’s major meteor showers, check out EarthSky’s meteor shower guide for 2009.
Bruce
My daughter got a telescope for christmas. It has only 100x magnification. What can I show her tonight that would help to inspire her toward an intrest in astronomy?
My daughter got a telescope for christmas. It has only 100x magnification. What can I show her tonight that would help to inspire her toward an intrest in astronomy?
Mike,
For starters, look at the blazing planet Venus at dusk, to see if you can see its phase. Believe it or not, it’s easier to discern Venus’ phase at early dusk than at nighttime. Later this week, look at the waxing crescent moon nearby Venus. I enclose the New Year’s Eve EarthSky Tonight Moon, Venus couple up on New Year’s Eve.
Bruce
what three planets are in conjuntion on 29th of dec venus and?
lisaborne,
Venus was in conjunction with Neptune on December 26, 2008 (North America). On December 31, 2008, Mercury will be in conjunction with Jupiter, though we won’t be able to see this conjunction from North America. Nonetheless, Neptune remains close to Venus, and Mercury shines nearby Jupiter for the rest of December 2008 and early January 2009. For what’s happening on December 29, 2008, read our EarthSky Tonight feature Observer’s challenge: moon, Jupiter, Mercury.
Bruce
Hi, I know it says it will be best in the wee hours before dawn..what time exactely is that? I’m from Louisiana and I really want to get the best veiw..
oh and is it saturday morning? like when the sun goes down after friday night?
Miranda,
Yes, that is before dawn on Saturday (January 3, 2009). Start looking about 4 in the morning. For the specific time of dawn and sunrise in your sky, check out the links on our almanac page. And for more on this hard-to-catch shower, read our January 2 EarthSky Tonight Quadrantid meteors before dawn on January 3, 4.
Good luck!
Bruce
This morning at @5am EST I might of seen an early stray one,a prelude to the larger event.I was merely looking at the Big Dipper & Polaris as they were up high in my NE corner,the bowl of the dipper pouring downwards then a flash from east to west.E&S is a great site!