General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsQuadrantids meteor shower this weekend.
Midnight Sunday to Dawn Monday.
http://earthsky.org/tonight/quadrantid-meteor-shower-before-dawn-in-early-january?utm_source=EarthSky+News&utm_campaign=7a80087e7f-EarthSky_News&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_c643945d79-7a80087e7f-394533365
The annual Quadrantid shower is nominally active during the first week of January, and is best seen from northerly latitudes. However, peak activity lasts less than a day. So you need to be on the night side of Earth when this shower exhibits its relatively short peak to witness the Quadrantids. In 2016, we dont expect the waning crescent moon to seriously obtrude on this meteor shower. So if youre game, try watching between midnight and dawn on January 4.
This meteor shower favors the Northern Hemisphere. Thats because its radiant point the point in the sky from which the meteors appear to radiate is far to the north on the skys dome.
The Quadrantid meteor shower is capable of matching the meteor rates of the better known August Perseid and December Geminid showers. It has been known to produce up to 50-100 or more meteors per hour in a dark sky.
So why isnt the Quadrantid shower as celebrated as the Perseid and Geminid showers? Its because the Quadrantid shower has a narrow peak that lasts for only a few hours. If you miss the peak which is easy to do you wont see many meteors.
http://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/everything-you-need-to-know-quadrantid-meteor-shower
Below is an image that displays who might have the ability to catch this brief yet spectacular shower. This year we're right in the ideal window.
Good luck everyone. Sadly rain and clouds are in my forecast, but I'm still posting hoping others might catch this shower.
elleng
(130,891 posts)Unfortunately NORTHeast isn't as good a view for me as SOUTHeast! Will try! Have seen the dippers, tho!
AND have seen Arcturus!
Cassiopeia
(2,603 posts)Any direction with clear skies should produce meteors. In fact I've caught most of the brightest meteors well off radiant in the last few showers.
This should be a fun one to catch and who knows when the next opportunity will come.
jonno99
(2,620 posts)3catwoman3
(23,975 posts)Very clear skies in the greater Chicago area.