The Quadrantids are considered one of the best annual meteor showers this year, distinguished by “bright fireballs,” according to NASA. The peak of this phenomenon occurs tonight in the early pre-dawn hours for a short duration of six hours, and the space agency recommends that viewers in the Northern Hemisphere, where meteor showers can be seen best, lie on the ground with their feet pointing northeast for optimal viewing.
Main Facts
The Quadrantids can also be seen at northern latitudes exceeding 51 degrees south throughout the night and during the dawn hours, according to the space agency.
NASA advises looking for a location far from the bright city or street lights and allowing the eyes to adjust to the dark for 30 minutes before viewers can see the meteors.
Between 2 AM and dawn, viewers will have the best chance to see the Quadrantids, but the bright half moon this year may obscure some meteors, according to the International Meteor Organization, which recommends using a tree or building to block moonlight.
At its peak, 60 to 200 Quadrantid meteors can be seen per hour if conditions are ideal, and the meteors travel at a speed of 25.5 miles per second, according to NASA.
Between 1 AM and 4 AM on Thursday morning, sky visibility will be lower along most of the East Coast and parts of the Midwest, while sky visibility will be better across most of California and parts of the South, according to the National Weather Service.
Meteor showers are known for their bright fireball meteors, which can last longer than the average meteor, as fireballs come from larger pieces of material, according to the space agency.
Surprising Facts
Due to its thin stream of particles and Earth’s perpendicular crossing of the meteor stream, the Quadrantids have a shorter peak time than other meteor showers, which typically peak for up to two days, according to NASA.
Main Background
The Quadrantids, which peak in early January each year, began on December 26 and will end on January 16 this year, according to NASA. While most meteor showers originate from comets, the Quadrantids originated from an asteroid called asteroid 2003 EH1, according to the International Meteor Organization. The asteroid 2003 EH1 takes 5.52 years to orbit the sun and may also be a “dead comet,” the organization noted. Asteroid 2003 EH1, which is considered small with a diameter of two miles, was discovered by the Near-Earth Object program at the Lowell Observatory on March 6, 2003, according to NASA. Astronomer and research scientist Peter Jenniskens discovered that the asteroid is the source of the Quadrantid meteors, which were first seen in 1825. The Quadrantids’ radiant, or the point from which they appear to emanate, is an ancient constellation called Quadrans Muralis.
Further Reading
The first meteor shower of 2024 has already begun: When to see the Quadrantids at their best (Forbes)
The top three meteor showers in 2024 you need to know about – starting this week (Forbes)
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