Quadrantid Meteor Shower

[Electric_CityWx]

The Quadrantid meteor shower is active (and visible) between Dec. 28 and Jan. 12, and will peak between Jan. 3 and Jan

The Quadrantid meteor shower is one of the strongest and most consistent showers of the year.

The Quadrantids will next peak around Jan. 3, 2025.

The moon will not interfere with the 2025 Lyrids as it will be a waxing crescent and set late on January 2.

The shower's radiant is in the constellation Bootes. The easiest way to find it is to look north for the Big Dipper. Then, follow the "arc" of the Big Dipper's handle across the sky to the red giant star Arcturus, which anchors the bottom of Bootes.

Although the Quadrantid meteor shower is mostly ignored by skywatchers in the Northern Hemisphere because it occurs during the winter, the Quadrantids are more prolific than most meteor showers. In addition to bringing up to 120 "shooting stars" per hour at their peak after dark on Jan. 3, the Quadrantids often produce a few superbright "fireballs." The moon will be below the horizon this year, so expect a good show if the skies are clear.

 

 

 

 

[Electric_CityWx]

@jbrumberg has more info on this and said it's gonna peak early afternoon for us, unfortunately.

[jbrumberg]

From Sky&Telescope:

January 3: The Quadrantids

This will likely be a poor year for the “Quads” if you’re in North America or Europe. This shower has a brief, strong peak that lasts 6 hours or less, with little activity before and after. This year the peak should be centered near 17:45 Universal Time (12:45 p.m. EST) on January 3rd, according to the International Meteor Organization. That would be good for the northwestern Pacific Ocean. Other sources give predictions as early 15:00 UT (10 a.m. EST, 7 a.m. PST), good for Alaska and possibly for the West Coast as the beginning of dawn approaches. There will be no moonlight.

When everything does align just right, the Quads deliver at least 1 or 2 meteors visible per minute under excellent sky conditions. In fact, the nominal zenithal hourly rate (which, again, is for an observer with perfect viewing conditions) is a very high 110. In some years it has reached 200.

The shower's radiant is in northernmost Boötes, between the end of the Big Dipper’s handle and the head of Draco, in the defunct constellation Quadrans Muralis. It’s highest before dawn.

The parent body of this shower is a small object designated 2003 EH₁ for its discovery year. (It’s also known as asteroid 196256 but hasn’t yet been named.) It loops around the Sun every 5½ years between the orbits of Earth and Jupiter. Only in 2004 did meteor specialist Peter Jenniskens discover that this body is responsible for the Quadrantids. It’s not an active comet — more likely it's an “extinct comet” that no longer has any ice to evaporate."

Edited December 30, 2024 by jbrumberg

[Electric_CityWx]

If it's a clear night on the 3rd and peak is 12:45pm, gonna head out around 5:30 and hope to catch something! Lol

[Electric_CityWx]

On 12/30/2024 at 6:04 PM, jbrumberg said:

This year the peak should be centered near 17:45 Universal Time (12:45 p.m. EST) on January 3rd, according to the International Meteor Organization. That would be good for the northwestern Pacific Ocean. Other sources give predictions as early 15:00 UT (10 a.m. EST, 7 a.m. PST)

So do I head out to watch the sky at 5am or 5pm? 😆🤷🏻‍♂️  

Just confused on the timing.

Edited January 2 by Electric_CityWx

[Electric_CityWx]

I found this, where you can change location and date.  It says it's gonna be bad weather here 3-4 for viewing though.

https://www.timeanddate.com/astronomy/meteor-shower/quadrantids.html

[Electric_CityWx]

Earthsky says 19:00 UTC  Jan 3rd..burning toast smell.. what is that in EST?

https://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/everything-you-need-to-know-quadrantid-meteor-shower/#robert

[Electric_CityWx]

so early morning?

[Electric_CityWx]

It was a bust for me.  The sky never fully opened up.  These events just don't favor my area I guess.