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2012 Quadrantids meteor shower viewing times and information at ...
Information about the 2012 Quadrantids meteor shower including facts, viewing times, videos, local meet-ups, and much more!
Catch the QUADRANTID METEOR SHOWER Tonight - How-To Geek
It's one of the lesser known and briefest meteor showers of the year but it makes up for it with a stunning display that peaks at 200+ meteors per hour; catch it tonight.
Quadrantids - Meteor Showers Online
The Quadrantid meteor shower is one of the strongest meteor showers of the year, but observers can be disappointed if conditions are not just right. The point ...
Meteor Shower Peaks Tonight: How to See 2011 Quadrantids
Slated to be one of the best meteor showers of the year, the 2011 Quadrantids will be especially bright thanks to a moonless sky.
QUADRANTID METEOR SHOWER To Peak Early Wednesday
DENVER -- The first meteor shower of the year will take place early Wednesday morning. With clear to fair skies overhead, Colorado should be in for a decent view of the Quadrantids. Unlike some meteor showers, this one will not be hindered by a ...
QUADRANTID METEOR SHOWER???
anyone see this meteor shower this morning th 4th of Jan.? was it great? i didnt see it the sky is cloudy, overcast.
Answer: yes it was beutiful
Category: Astronomy & Space
Photographing Meteor Shower Tonight With Nikon D40 Need Help?
Im going to try to get some Quadrantid Meteor pictures with my D40 Tonight. I have a tripod. Ill be on manual mode with focus to infinity. Can someone suggest a good shutter speed, aperture and ISO? I saw that someone suggested an ISO of 100 for this but it seems like my ISO menu only shows that I can go as low as 200? So How can I go lower? Any other advice would be appreciated.
Answer: Your ISO is good.. Set your lens to a semi wide angle, all the way to 18mm is good if you have this wide, and your f/stop at 3.5 is good too.
If your camera has a 30 second setting, this is a good starting point, however if you have B this is better, but, I don't think you have a remote release socket, cord or remote control do you..?
If all you have is 30 seconds you will have to use this and just keep taking shots at the "source" and hopefully you will get something. Try to also capture the horizon, tree branches, the corner of a house, anything that adds scale and depth to the pic, but always be focused on the stars. Have camera in full M mode.
If you have a AC adapter, use it. You WILL eat up battery power fast. The moon may also be an issue and cause some sky glow. You may try stopping down to 5.6 or even 8 but then some of the fainter streaks may not be seen.
Waiting till after midnight is often much better. 1 - the sliver of the Moon will have set allowing darker skies and 2 - the Earth is now traveling into the direction of travel.
?? I know.. HUH..??
Before midnight our view of the night sky is like looking out the side or back windows of a speeding car, we are NOT looking in the direction of travel, yet. The Earth has to turn some more to do this.. The meteors we see have to over take the speed of the Earth in order to be seen, actually a easy job for the most part. BUT.. When we view space in the direction we are going, forward, like out the cars front wind shield, Earth is now hitting head on with any space debris', like bugs on a windshield, and now our speed and that of the "stuff" makes for brighter and faster streaks across the sky from the radiant point.
So, if you can stay up, the hours from 11 to 3 are generally the best.
Good luck..
Bob - Tucson
Category: Photography
iTWire - QUADRANTID METEOR SHOWER set to hit January 4, 2012
Quadrantid meteor shower set to hit January 4, 2012 ... Jailbreak real for iPhone 4 and iOS 5.0.1, but not iPad 2 or iPhone 4S yet
CALENDAR; Events on Long Island
COMEDY WESTBURY Capital One Bank Theater Kevin James, stand-up. Dec. 28 at 7 and 10 p.m. $56.50 to $66.50. Capital One Bank Theater, 960 Brush Hollow Road. (516) 334-0800; livenation.com. FILM EAST MEADOW East Meadow Public Library The Cats of Mirikitani, a documentary about Jimmy Mirikitani, an 86-year-old artist, by Linda Hattendorf; Mr.
CALENDAR
COMEDY WESTBURY Capital One Bank Theater Kevin James, stand-up. Dec. 28 at 7 and 10 p.m. $56.50 to $66.50. Capital One Bank Theater, 960 Brush Hollow Road. (516) 334-0800; livenation.com. FILM EAST MEADOW East Meadow Public Library The Cats of Mirikitani, a documentary about Jimmy Mirikitani, an 86-year-old artist, by Linda Hattendorf; Mr.
Fireworks for astro enthusiasts tomorrow night
However, the number of meteors can vary from 60 to 200 per hour as the Quadrantids meteor shower peaks tomorrow, he said. The shooting stars can be seen through naked eyes in the East and North-East directions away from city lights and no equipment such as ...
Meteors and sun put on celestial double feature
Heres a look at the skywatching bonanza, starting with the Quadrantid meteor shower. Quadrantid meteor shower returnsEarly each January, the Quadrantid meteor stream provides one of the most intense annual meteor displays, with a brief, sharp maximum ...
Will I be able to see the QUADRANTID METEOR SHOWER in the Los Angeles Area?
If so what time will it be the best and where will it be.
Answer: On the west coast we may catch the tail end of it.
But the weather is not looking good for observation.
I'm in NorCal looking at a predicted 10' of snow
;~( Not a good time to be sitting outside looking up.
This site has some recommendations for viewing about half way down the page
http://science.nasa.gov/newhome/headlines/ast28dec98_1.htm
Category: Astronomy & Space
Quadrantids.com
The Quadrantid meteor shower. The Quadrantids are a meteor shower. The Name comes from Quadrans Mulralis an obsolete constellation. The Quadrantid meteor shower is ...
5 Reasons the Meteor Shower Should Force You Out of Bed
Theres a meteor shower happening tonight! Its like Gods light show from above -- better than anything seen in Vegas, for sure. So snap out of your post-holiday blues and get excited to watch the Quadrantids rain down from the sky at a rate of about 100 per hour.
Will there be a meteor shower tonight?
Some say that a the Quadrantid meteor shower will be visible on the night of Dec. 21 2010. Does anyone know if this information is true?
Answer: I believe the Quadrantids are due January 3rd and 4th with about 40 per hour, which is so-so for specially named meteor showers.
Category: Astronomy & Space
The QUADRANTID METEOR SHOWER
The first of the 2012 meteor showers – The Quadrantids, peak on the night of the 3rd and 4th of January with up to 120 meteors per hour.
Whats the best time for me to view the The QUADRANTID METEOR SHOWER?
I live in Florida. I would like to know; When is the best time for me to view the meteor shower? I heard that its taking place on Jan. 3rd, but I dont think the East Coast can view the shower as well as the West Coast & across the Pacific Ocean.
Also, what exactly would I need to view it? Possibly binoculars? Or maybe a telescope? (Im getting a telescope for Christmas, so no worries there!)
Thank you. (:
Answer: January 3 and 4, after midnight. The Quadrantids (or most meteor showers) are not worth travelling any distance to see, as long as you have a dark sky location. All you need to view it is your eyes. Meteors are too fast to be viewed by binoculars or a telescope: by the time you get it pointed, they're gone. What kind of telescope are you getting? I hope you've been following the advice we give here!
Category: Astronomy & Space
Quadrantids
The Quadrantid meteor shower is one of the strongest meteor showers of the year, but observers can be disappointed if conditions are not just right.
Quadrantids meteor shower peaks – briefly – tonight | Bad ...
Astronomy | meteor showers | Tonight is one of the odder meteor showers of the years. Why is it odd? Well for one, it's called the Quadrantids -- named after a constellation that got redefi.
QUADRANTID METEOR SHOWER wont have to compete with moonlight ...
The first meteor shower of 2012 — the lesser known Quadrantid meteor shower — will kick off a new year of skywatching when it peaks on Wednesday (Jan ...
Core of a Comet Lights Up Januarys Night Sky
Before the sun rises on Sunday, the Quadrantid meteors will make their yearly appearance, about one a minute streaking across the dark sky. A California astronomer says he has finally figured out where all those streaks of light came from. The light shows occur when Earth crosses debris trails left by comets. The Perseids of August come from Comet - Dr Peter Jenniskens, SETI Institute (Mountain View, Calif) astronomer, holds that 2003 EHI, asteroid discovered in March 2003, is responsible for Quadrantid meteors; research, published in Astronomical Journal, explains how large mass of debris and young age of meteor grouping point to asteroid being burnt-out core of comet that was observed in China, Japan and Korea in 1490 and 1491 and never witnessed again; photo (M) - By KENNETH CHANG
PLEASE HELP!!????????????
Stellar Meteor Shower Jan. 3 the (Quadrantid meteror showers)
would this meteor shower be visible from my place in santa ana southerncalifornia???
Answer: get out your 2009 calendar and put a big circle around Saturday morning, Jan. 3.
That's the expected peak date for the Quadrantids, a notoriously unpredictable meteor display. In 2009, peak activity is due to occur in the pre-dawn hours of Jan. 3 and will strongly favor western North America. If the "Quads" reach their full potential, observers blessed with clear, dark skies could be averaging one or two meteor sightings per minute in the hour or two prior to the break of dawn.
The Quadrantid (pronounced KWA-dran-tid) meteors provides one of the most intense annual meteor displays, with a brief, sharp maximum lasting but a few hours. Adolphe Quetelet of Brussels Observatory discovered the shower in the 1830's, and shortly afterward it was noted by several other astronomers in Europe and America.
The meteors are named after the obsolete constellation Quadrans Muralis the Mural or Wall Quadrant (an astronomical instrument), depicted in some 19th-century star atlases roughly midway between the end of the handle of the Big Dipper and the quadrilateral of stars marking the head of the constellation Draco. (The International Astronomical Union phased out Quadrans Muralis in 1922.)
Category: Astronomy & Space
Little-known QUADRANTID METEOR SHOWER can still put on a good show ...
Call it the Rodney Dangerfield of meteor showers: It just can’t get no respect. Although the Quadrantid meteor shower can put on a spectacular display ...
The QUADRANTID METEOR SHOWER
The Quadrantid meteor shower is one of the year's best, often producing more than 100 meteors per hour from a radiant near the North Star. In 2012 forecasters ...
QUADRANTID METEOR SHOWER peaks Wednesday morning | KXAN.com ...
The annual Quadrantid meteor shower is expected to produce its greatest number of meteors in the wee hours before dawn Wednesday. The Quadrantid meteor shower is capable of matching the meteor rates of the better ...
Quadrantid Meteors Set to Perform on Jan. 4th
Celestially speaking, 2012 opens with a bang. The Quadrantid meteor shower, one of the best displays of "shooting stars" all year, will peak in the hours before dawn this Wednesday, January 4th. If you get up early, bundle up warmly, and find dark site ...
QUADRANTID METEOR SHOWER to light up night sky – Light Years - CNN ...
Meteor watchers in North America can expect to see 60 to 200 meteors an hour streak across the sky early Wednesday. NASA says the Quadrantid meteor shower should be perfect for viewing around 3 a.m. local time ...
you can see The QUADRANTID METEOR SHOWER from israel right?
Answer: If I calculate correctly they should be starting at 5 AM in Israel.
So you may see some just before dawn.
Space Weather forecast
Quadrantids meteor shower: Forecasters expect a brief but intense peak of 50+ meteors per hour over Earth's northern hemisphere sometime between 0200 UTC and 0700 UTC on Friday morning, Jan. 4th. (Subtract 5 hours to convert UTC to EST.) The timing favors observers in the eastern USA, Europe and western parts of Asia.
This site has some recommendations for viewing about half way down the page
http://science.nasa.gov/newhome/headlines/ast28dec98_1.htm
Read more on the space weather site
Category: Astronomy & Space
Where is the best place to see this years QUADRANTID METEOR SHOWER?
Answer: There are hundreds of meteors that streak through the atmosphere of the earth each and every day and night. There are times when the earth passes through what was the path of a comet and our atmosphere will pick up a lot of tiny specks of dust left behind from that comet. When that happens, it is called a meteor shower.
There are many meteor showers every year. ★ Meteor showers can occur several days prior, and several days after, their projected peak time. ★ Think about the rotation of the earth. As the Earth spins, it moves into the path of the dust in space so you want to look mostly towards the east and near the constellation that the shower is named for.
The darker the sky in your viewing location, then the more you can see of even the fainter meteors. If you are in a light polluted area, you will only be able to see the biggest and most bright meteors. They are best to watch if you have a friend with you.
This is the 2010 calendar of meteor showers from the International Meteor Organization.
They put the 2010 calendar on a pdf file this year so you can save it to your computer.
Here is their link for that.
http://www.imo.net/docs/cal2010.pdf
Their home page can tell you how to get the very most out of your meteor shower viewing experience.
http://www.imo.net/
Category: Astronomy & Space
The QUADRANTID METEOR SHOWER?
I live in Michigan, can I see this meteor shower?
Answer: If the weather is clear you should.
Space Weather forecast
Quadrantids meteor shower: Forecasters expect a brief but intense peak of 50+ meteors per hour over Earth's northern hemisphere sometime between 0200 UTC and 0700 UTC on Friday morning, Jan. 4th. (Subtract 5 hours to convert UTC to EST.) The timing favors observers in the eastern USA, Europe and western parts of Asia.
This site has some recommendations for viewing about half way down the page
http://science.nasa.gov/newhome/headlines/ast28dec98_1.htm
Unfortunately for me I may be looking at 10' of snow ;~(
Read more on the space weather site
Category: Astronomy & Space
Looking to the Stars: NASA Touts ‘Beautiful’ Meteor Shower Wednesday
Heads up for stargazers: an annual meteor shower early Wednesday morning promises a “brief, beautiful show” worth waking – or staying – up for this year. The Quadrantids, a little-known meteor shower named after an extinct constellation ...
QUADRANTID METEOR SHOWER, First of 2012, May Dazzle Early Wednesday
The first meteor shower of 2012 — the lesser known Quadrantid meteor shower — will kick off a new year of skywatching when it peaks on Wednesday (Jan. 4). While many meteor displays in 2011 were washed out by a bright moon, the Quadrantid meteor shower ...
Quadrantids - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Quadrantids are an easily visible January meteor shower. The radiant of this shower is an area inside the constellation Boötes. The name comes from Quadrans ...
QUADRANTID METEOR SHOWER is almost here
The first big meteor shower of 2012 is set to kick off early Wednesday morning from about 3-5 a.m. The Quadrantids - named after a now-extinct constellation known as Quadrans Muralis - is expected to produce up 60-200 streaks per hour ...
QUADRANTID METEOR SHOWER sweetens up the week | Astro Bob
Jupiter and the moon couple up tonight high in the southern sky during early evening hours. Maps created with Stellarium
QUADRANTID METEOR SHOWER Tonight | The Navigator
Quadrantid meteor shower Tonight. January 3, 2012. Updated Jan 3, 2012 at 11:27 AM CST. Towards the northern sky this evening the Quadrantid, or “Quads” meteor shower is expected. Over 100 meteors per hour are ...
QUADRANTID METEOR SHOWER To Light Up Night Sky - Technology News ...
(CNN) -- Meteor watchers in North America can expect to see 60 to 200 meteors an hour streak across the sky early Wednesday. NASA says the Quadrantid ...
QUADRANTID METEOR SHOWER before dawn January 4, 2012 | Tonight ...
The annual Quadrantid meteor shower is expected to produce its greatest number of meteors before dawn on Wednesday, January 4.
Catch the QUADRANTID METEOR SHOWER Tonight - How-To Geek
4 hours ago ... It's one of the lesser known and briefest meteor showers of the year but it makes up for it with a stunning display that peaks at 200+ meteors per ...
Strong QUADRANTID METEOR SHOWER, One of 2012's Best, Peaks ...
6 hours ago ... SPACE.com offers tips to see the 2012 Quadrantid meteor shower on Wednesday, Jan. 4.Up to 100 meteors per hour are expected at peak ...
Quadrantids - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Quadrantid meteor is bright enough to be seen at twilight. The Quadrantids are an easily visible January meteor shower. The radiant of this shower is an area ...
Quadrantids meteor shower may dazzle under moonless sky late tonight
While cautioning the Quandrantids are notoriously unpredictable, Space.com says: “This first meteor shower of the year may end up being one of the best of 2012. Between 60 and 200 meteors per hour will streak through the night sky, with an ...
I am in Costa Rica - Where should I look to see tonights meteor shower?
Apparently the Quadrantid meteor shower will peak tonight - Jan 4th.
I am in Costa Rica and would like to see it, where in the night sky should I be looking for it? And is there a best time for this?
I am only really confident to find Orions belt...
Category: Astronomy & Space
PAGASA: Meteor showers this week
MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) urged yesterday astronomy enthusiasts in the country to watch out for the annual Quadrantid meteor showers this week. In its monthly ...
A good year for the Quadrantids
the Quadrantids have been known to produce as many as 100 to 150 meteors per hour. There are several factors, however, that make the Quadrantid shower a difficult one to view. The peak of the shower lasts, at most, just a few hours, and if a ...
2012 has first meteor shower
If you snooze you’ll lose Wednesday morning, when a little known but active meteor shower will start 2012 for people stalwart enough to brave the chilly hours before dawn. The Quadrantids, named for a now-extinct constellation, will be visible ...
The QUADRANTID METEOR SHOWER
The Quadrantid meteor shower is one of the years best, producing more than 100 meteors per hour from a radiant near the North Star.
QUADRANTID METEOR SHOWER
First of all, this blog is inspired by a favorite astronomy site of mine, EarthSky.org. This site is downright terrific and has graciously allowed me to use many skymaps in previous blogs as well as this one. This site is an absolutely fantastic source for ...
12 Must-See Skywatching Events in 2012a
Hopefully your local weather will cooperate on most, if not all, of these dates. Clear skies! Jan. 4: Quadrantid meteor shower peaks This meteor shower reaches its peak in the predawn hours of Jan. 4 for eastern North America. The Quadrantid meteor shower ...
QUADRANTID METEOR SHOWER peaks Wednesday - TODAY Tech - TODAY.com
Quadrantid meteor shower peaks Wednesday This shooting star show is expected to be one of the years best Below: x Jump to discuss comments below
Will i be able to watch the QUADRANTID METEOR SHOWER from Athens,Greece?
I live in Greece(and thats in the Northern Hemisphere) and i would like to know if, when, and what time i can watch the Quadrantid meteor shower.(That will happen before dawn on January 4,but i am not sure if the same thing applies for Greece)
Answer: Maybe.
First of all, a dark sky really helps. The view from a large city like Athens is very poor; the farther you can get from the city, the better. A coastline (away from brightly-lit places such as harbors) might also be a good spot, since the sky will be darker over the water.
Second, although the Quadrantids are a good shower, they are hard to catch because they have a short duration -- just a few hours to either side of the peak.
Here are the circumstances for Athens (in local time for time zone UT+2) for the morning of January 4:
- moon sets at 3:12 AM
- sky starts becoming bright around 6:30 AM
- sun rises at 7:41 AM
- predicted peak of meteor shower is 9 AM (=0700 UT)
Thus, the time to watch is between 3:12 AM and dawn.
You'll be watching somewhat before the predicted peak. Things will be better for you if the shower arrives early, and worse if it arrives late.
Bottom line:
- If you have lots of time, observe from about 3:15 AM until the sky brightens. If you want a shorter observing session, 5 AM would be a good time to start. (Most likely, the shower will improve toward dawn.)
- Try to get away from city lights.
- Understand that a good meteor shower in Greece is not a sure thing. If the shower peaks later than the predicted time, there may be very few meteors visible from Europe.
One final tip: Meteors from a shower can appear anywhere in the sky. Which direction should you look? Wherever it's darkest. For instance, if you travel southeast of Athens, the darkest part of the sky will probably be in the southeast (away from the city), and that's the best place to look in order to maximize the number of meteors. If you travel northwest of Athens, you should look toward the northwest.
Category: Astronomy & Space
Will people be able to see the QUADRANTID METEOR SHOWER in Thailand, and if so, when?
Will it be viewable from Bangkok, Thailand?
Answer: The meteor shower lasts several days and should be visible in the night sky anywhere in the world tonight and maybe still tomorrow night.
Category: Astronomy & Space
Can QUADRANTID METEOR SHOWER be observed in Utah?
Id like to ask some questions about this years(?) Quadrantid meteor showers, which will occur from the end of Dec this year through the beginning of Jan, 2011.
I visited Moab, UT area last month. The last day of my trip, the
sky was so clear and I decided to take a glimpse of well-known
Utahs dark sky. I went to Arches National Park after dark and
was stunned by countless stars as if they were falling from the
sky....
The beautiful night sky still stays in my mind even after I came
back home. I was surfing the internet and found that
Quadrantid meteor showers will peak at the beginning of January
next year 2011. I am now attracted to go to Utah again and see them
myself. I am thinking about visiting Bryce Canyon National Park.
To be honest, I know nothing about astronomy, and there
are so many unfamiliar words when I surf the internet. I am just
a first time amateur star gazer and attracted by so many stars over the sky
that I had never seen before.
Here are some questions I would like to ask.
1. Is Utahs winter weather generally favorable for star gazing?
Or usually more cloudy days?
2. Some articles say this years Quadrantid meteor shower will be
better observed in Europe and East Asia. Will USA, more
particularly Utah, still be a good place to view them?
3. Some articles I found say go see the meteor before dawn on
Jan. 4th, 2011. But it seems the peak will be around right after
the sunset on Jan 3rd, 2011??? I know the peak time depends on where you view them, but I wonder when it will peak in Utah, USA.
4. Does anyone who has been to Bryce Canyon National Park for star gazing have any suggestion where particularly in the park I should go ?
If anyone could answer those questions, it would be highly appreciated.
Thanks!
Answer: There are hundreds of meteors that streak through the atmosphere of the earth each and every day and night. There are times when the earth passes through what was the path of a comet and our atmosphere will pick up a lot of tiny specks of dust left behind from that comet. When that happens, it is called a meteor shower. There are many meteor showers every year.
★ Meteor showers can occur several days prior, and several days after, their projected peak time.★
Think about the rotation of the earth. As the Earth spins, it moves into the path of the dust in space so you want to look mostly towards the east and near the constellation that the shower is named for.
The darker the sky in your viewing location, then the more you can see of even the fainter meteors. If you are in a light polluted area, you will only be able to see the biggest and most bright meteors. They are best to watch if you have a friend with you. You do not need any optical equipment. Meteors are best viewed with your naked eyes.
Great Article on Meteor Showers:
http://stardate.org/nightsky/meteors/
This is the 2010 calendar of meteor showers from the International Meteor Organization.
They put the 2010 calendar on a pdf file this year so you can save it to your computer.
Here is their link for that.
http://www.imo.net/docs/cal2010.pdf
This is the link to their 2011 calendar information:
http://www.imo.net/calendar/2011
Their home page can tell you how to get the very most out of your meteor shower viewing experience.
http://www.imo.net/
I hope that you have a great time!
Category: Astronomy & Space
Quadrantids Meteor Shower 2012 « Dark Sky Diary
On the night of 03/04 January 2012 the first meteor shower of the year will take place, the Quadrantids. This shower ranks as one of the best performers of the year, assuming your skies aren't clouded, as they so often are in ...
QUADRANTID METEOR SHOWER?
I was thinking of viewing the Quadrantid meteor shower this year with some friends. We have school the next day but whatever haha. Ive never seen a meteor shower before so Im excited! We live in Colorado, so when would be the best time on the night of Jan 3-4 to view it? Ive heard conflicting things about what time would be best.
Thanks!
Answer: Well, ..., Check the website below. Starting at about 11:00PM on January 3rd or 4th you're going to be looking North just under the last star in the handle of the Big Dipper and in-between the constellations Draco and Boötes.
I haven't heard what this year's prediction is but, in a good year at the peak, you can see up to 200 meteor's per hour.
Category: Astronomy & Space
QUADRANTID METEOR SHOWER to light up night sky – Light Years ...
Meteor watchers in North America can expect to see 60 to 200 meteors an hour streak across the sky early Wednesday. NASA says the Quadrantid meteor shower ...
QUADRANTID METEOR SHOWER won't have to compete with moonlight ...
1 day ago ... Quadrantid meteor shower peak could hit as many as 100 meteors per hour, says NASA. The Quadrantid meteor shower will peak at 2 a.m. on ...
NASA - Quadrantids Will Create Brief, Beautiful Show on Jan. 4
For northern hemisphere viewers, the 2012 Quadrantid meteor shower will provide a beautiful but brief sky show in the wee morning hours of Jan. 4.
QUADRANTID METEOR SHOWER to peak overnight
The first meteor shower of the new year should peak between 2 and 3 a.m. Wednesday, with clear skies forecast for Hampton Roads. Cold temperatures and gusty winds could make viewing uncomfortable, but the Quadrantid shower is expected to produce up to 100 ...
Will the QUADRANTID METEOR SHOWER be visible on morning of Jan 5?!!!!?
PLease tell me i missed it yesterday cause i confused times..i thought it said like jan 4 night..and i thought it was tonight..although it was tommorow...!!! please tell me..if its even miinutely visible? and will it be visible frm countryside in toronto? IF not when will it appear next time?! PLEASE TELL ME THANKS!
Answer: You missed the Quadrantid meteor shower this year. They were predicted to peak on January 4 at 2 AM EST. The Quadrantids have a very narrow duration (about 7 hours to either side of the peak) and we are already 21 hours past the peak.
That's not to say that there might not be a very small number of Quadrantid meteors tonight (January 4-5), but not enough to make a special effort to see.
You can see some meteors on any clear night, but note the following:
- A dark sky is important -- as far from city lights as possible.
- You should pick times when the moon isn't up.
- There are usually more meteors visible in the hours after midnight than the hours before.
- Don't use binoculars or a telescope. Meteors can appear anywhere in the sky. The best thing is to lie down on the ground (a foam pad and sleeping bag may help) with a view of as much of the sky as possible, and enjoy the show.
In most years, the three best meteor showers are the following (along with their peak times for 2008):
Quadrantids January 4 2 AM EST
Perseids August 12 7 AM EDT
Geminids December 13 6 PM EST
You should look not necessarily at the peak time, but at the dark hours (particularly the AM dark hours) closest to the peak time.
The Perseids in 2008 occur 4 days before full moon, so the best time to look is after the moon sets on the morning of August 12. There will be a little over 3.5 hours of dark sky between moonset and the start of twilight.
The Perseids have a broad peak, so there will be meteors visible in the days before and after August 12, but the morning of August 12 should be best.
The Geminids in 2008 peak one day after full moon, so it's not a good year for this shower. Try it again some other year. 2009 will be very good, and 2010 will be excellent.
People often don't understand why there are more meteors late at night than early. Around 6 AM local time, your part of earth is facing forward in the earth's orbit around the sun. At 6 PM local time, it's facing backwards. The windshield of a car picks up more bugs than the back window, and the geometry of the earth with meteors is similar.
-- edit
I mentioned that the Quadrantids peaked at 2 AM EST on January 4. This information came from the Observer's Handbook. I just noticed that the web site http://spaceweather.com says that the actual peak was 9 PM EST (=0200 UT) on January 3. Experts may disagree by a few hours on predicting the peak of a shower.
Also, even if 9 PM on Jan 3 was the peak, that would have been a bad time to watch the shower because the radiant (the point from which meteors appear to originate) is below the horizon at that time, and doesn't get well above the horizon until the AM hours. Thus, for both predictions, the morning hours of January 4 were the best time to watch the shower from eastern North America this year. It wouldn't have hurt, however, to start looking about 10 PM EST January 3, when the radiant first appeared above the horizon; it all depends on how much of the night you want to spend looking for meteors.
-- edit
You asked when it will appear next time. I've already mentioned the other best meteor showers in 2008. Now I'll describe the prospects for the Quadrantids for the next few years from eastern North America.
Based on this year's time for the Quadrantids as listed in the Observer's Handbook, one would expect the peaks in the coming years to occur as follows (but keep in mind that this year's peak came 5 hours earlier):
2009 Jan 3, 8 AM EST
2010 Jan 3, 2 PM EST
2011 Jan 3, 8 PM EST
2012 Jan 4, 2 AM EST
Of these four years, the best for eastern North America are 2009 and 2012. 2011 might be good, and 2010 is poor.
2009:
The best time to look is in the morning of January 3. The moon will be down, so this is a very good time to watch the shower -- perhaps from 2 AM until dawn. You'd have an excellent chance of seeing the shower at or near its peak.
2010:
If the peak comes at 2 PM, this is not favorable for people in the eastern time zone. If it comes a few hours early, then the morning of January 3 would be good -- especially the couple of hours before the start of twilight. Unfortunately, there is a bright moon at that time, so 2010 is a poor year for the Quadrantids.
2011:
If the peak is at 8 PM on January 3, then the best time to watch is that evening, starting around 11 PM or midnight and continuing into the morning of January 4. The moon will not interfere.
If the peak comes 5 hours early, then the timing is really bad for eastern North America. The couple of hours before twilight on the morning of January 3 would be the best time. The crescent moon rises about 5 AM.
2012:
The morning of January 4 is good after the moon sets (about 3:15 AM). If the peak comes on schedule or a bit late, it will be an excellent shower. If it comes early, the numbers of meteors will be reduced somewhat.
These are my best guesses, and they should be quite accurate; but shortly before the shower, you should check other sources of information like the following:
http://www.skyandtelescope.com/
http://spaceweather.com/
Also, maybe the meteors will surprise us and come a few hours after the times I mentioned. You don't know unless you look.
Category: Astronomy & Space
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