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In early January, the Quadrantid meteor shower It provides one of the most intense annual meteor displays, with its short, sharp peak lasting only a few hours, occurring this year at night on Saturdays and Sundays (Jan 2-3).
The meteors actually radiate from the northeast corner of the constellation Boötes, the Shepherd, so we might expect them to be called the “Boötids”. But at the end of the 18th century there was a constellation here called Quadrans Muralis, the “mural or mural Quadrant” (an astronomical instrument). It is an outdated star pattern, invented in 1795 by JJ Lalande to commemorate the instrument used for stargazing in his catalog.
The rain was discovered by Adolphe Quetelet of the Brussels Observatory in the 1830s, and soon after it was noticed by various astronomers in Europe and America. Hence, they were dubbed “Quadrantids” (pronounced KWA-dran-tids) and although the constellation from which these meteors appear to radiate no longer exists, the shower’s original nickname continues to this day.
Related: Quadrantid meteor shower 2021 guide: when and how to see it
Plus: The 10 must-see night sky events to see in 2021
2021: a poor quadruple year
Unfortunately, this will not be a good year to look for the “Quads” for two reasons. Just throw it into bad timing.
First, this year’s peak rainfall is forecast for 10 a.m. EST or 7 a.m. EST on January 3. Therefore, in the contiguous United States and southern Canada, peak activity will occur during bright morning twilight or daylight conditions. Remember what we said – this is a very stark screen, so six hours before peak activity will only be about half your top speed. For the eastern US, hourly rates of 30 to 60 meteors per hour are possible, while for the western US, hourly rates can go as high as 45 to 90; these are still excellent numbers when it comes to most meteor showers.
But unfortunately, there is a much bigger hurdle for would-be meteor watchers this year in the form of Moon. In one out of every three years, bright moonlight spoils sight and this is one of those years.
In 2021, the moon is full five days before the peak of the rain. That means that on the morning of January 3, there will be a bright waning gibbous moon, 81% illuminated, located in the constellation Leo the Lion, which will reach its highest point in the sky around 3:30 in the afternoon. the morning.
Therefore, during the evening hours of Saturday and Sunday (January 2-3), the sky will be illuminated with the bright light of the moon. That moonlight will likely crush all but the brightest meteorites. This particular meteorite display is at its best just before sunrise, around 6 a.m. local time, when the radiant from this shower, from which meteors appear to emanate, ascends across the northeast sky.
So taking that bright moon into account means that if you live in the eastern US, you may not see more than half a dozen of these blue streaks in a single hour. In the west, it could be a little better; you can see about 10 or more quads per hour.
Related: Amazing Quadrantid Meteor Shower Photos By Astronomers
Crumbs from a dead comet?
At peak activity, typically 60 to 120 quadrantid meteors are seen per hour. However, the influx of quadrantids reaches its peak: six hours before and after maximum, these blue meteors appear at half their highest rates, so the stream of particles that produce this shower is narrow, apparently derived from the last 500 years of a small comet.
The ancestry of the Quadrantids had long been a mystery. So Dr. Peter Jenniskens, an astronomer at the SETI Institute in Mountain View, California, noticed that the 2003 orbit EH1, a small asteroid discovered in March 2003, ‘‘falls comfortably in the shower. ” He thinks it’s 1.2 miles. (2 kilometers) piece of rock is the source of the Quadrantids; possibly this asteroid is the burned nucleus of the lost comet C / 1490 Y1.
Seen from northern mid-latitudes, we have to get up before sunrise to see the Quadrantids at their best. This is because the radiant, that part of the sky where the meteors will emanate, is very low on the northern horizon until about midnight, slowly rising as the night progresses. The rising light of dawn ends meteor viewing usually around 6 a.m. M. Therefore, if the “quads” are to be seen, a portion of that active six-hour period must be between 2 AM and 6 AM. M.
Stay warm and “shower” with a friend
Lastly, and I’ve touched on this point many times before, but it should certainly be addressed again, your local climate will probably be more appropriate for taking a hot bath rather than a winter meteor shower. In fact, at this time of year, meteor watching can be a long and cold affair. You wait and wait for meteors to appear and when they don’t appear right away, and if you’re cold and uncomfortable, you won’t be looking for meteors for long! So make sure you are warm and comfortable.
Warm cocoa or coffee can soothe the cold, as well as provide a slight boost. It’s even better if you can watch with friends. That way, it can cover more sky.
Good luck and clear skies!
Joe Rao serves as instructor and guest speaker at New York’s Hayden Planetarium. Write about astronomy to Journal of natural history, the Farmers Almanac and other publications. Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom and in Facebook.
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