Between once in a lifetime Comet And epic Jupiter and Saturn meeting For the Great Connection, 2020 was a big year for celestial phenomena. But 2021, the quarter is getting off to a strong start with the peak of meteor showers, which NASA calls this week, Saturday, January 2 to Sunday, January 3, one of the “best annual meteor showers.”
What is a quarter?
According to NASA, this Quarter Returning between December 28 and January each year. First seen in 1825, they originated from the small asteroid 1003 EH1, which was discovered in March 2003 by the Lowell Observatory near-Earth ject project.
Meteors appear to have spread from a constellation called “Quadrans Muralis”, which no longer exists. However, it is not the actual source of constellation meteors.
“The alternative name for the quarter is Butids because meteors emanate from the modern constellation of Boots,” says NASA. “Although the constellation is no longer recognized, the meteor shower was long considered a constellation to its name.”
The quarter marks the final meteor shower of the season, a few months before the start of the new year with little celestial activity. According to the American Meteorological Society, it is expected to be one of the strongest rains of the year, along with Perseids and Geminids.
During a short window from Saturday night to Sunday morning, between 60 and 200 meteors per hour traveling 25.5 miles per hour are expected to be present. The quarter is known for bright fireball ball meteors, large bursts of color and light that last longer than the average meteor line.
Despite the possibility of a shower, it will be short: the maximum activity window is only six hours.
NASA says, “The reason the peaks are so short is because of the thin stream of fountain particles and the fact that the Earth crosses the flow at right angles.”
Daniel Lopez / NASA APD
How to see a quarter meteor shower
The Northern Hemisphere is the best place to see the quarter, but the mild weather conditions in early January also make it difficult to see. Even if the sky is clear from the clouds, the almost completely invisible gibbous moon shines brightly over the weekend, making meteor-spotting difficult.
Unlike many other popular meteor showers, which top many nights, finding a meteor requires you to take a look at the quadrangle. According to the International Meteorological Organization, the peak is expected to arrive around 14:30 UTC on Sunday – meaning the best chance to see a fountain in North America will be in the early hours of Sunday morning.
Like all meteor showers, you want to sit on your back and walk away from the bright city lights for optimal viewing conditions giving your eyes about 30 minutes to adjust to the darkness. Dress and be patient for the winter weather – watch the show. Will last until.
After the quarter, the second meteor shower will not occur for more than three months, while Lirids and Eta Aquarius will return in April.
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