Get quick for 2019 ’s very first meteor shower due to fall up skies tonight .
The Quadrantids will be seeable from certain spots in the Northern Hemisphere – but stargazers must be ready . Unlike the Perseids or Geminids , the Quadrantids have an extremely brief peak of just a few hours . This is down to the angle the Earth cross the stream of the particles ( perpendicular ) and the size of the exhibitor ’s current ( tenuous ) .
fit in to theInternational Meteor Organization , this twelvemonth ’s meridian should take place at close to 2 am UTC on January 4 . At which time , it is potential to see 60 to 100 – and sometimesas many as 200 – meteor an hour . The good news is that in 2019 , the Quadrantids will co-occur with a Modern moon , which means less moonlight and so a dark sky . All the best for viewing .
While the shower should be visible from anywhere in the mid - northerly to far - northerly line of latitude , the timing of this year ’s peak means the great unwashed in and close to Europe are in the good position to see it , reportsEarthsky . concord toAccuweather , the sound spot for viewing in the US will be in the central and southwest states . In the Northeast , meteors may be obscured by clouds and uncertain weather patterns , while viewing in the Southeast may be interrupted by storms .
The Quadrantids ( which , unlike most showers , spring up from an asteroid – asteroid 2003 EH1 ) are particularly peculiar and awe - worthy because of their brilliant human dynamo meteoroid . From a stargazing point of view , this means they are expectant , brighter , and last longer than your average meteor streak .
In the sky , they seem to initiate from the Northern tip of Boötes , a constellation in the Northern Hemisphere , currently seeable in the north - northwest direction . And while this mean they can seldom be fancy from the Southern Hemisphere , it is not necessary to come up the radiant to view from the Northern Hemisphere . This is because meteor will spud out across the sky .
For top look at tips , NASArecommends observe a stain far away from any gross street luminousness , lying down on your back with your feet pointing northeastward , and front up . It can take up to 30 instant for your eye to adjust to the darkness .
The Quadrantids are not the only exciting outer space event coming up in the next month – on January 21 , agiant top-notch origin moonis due .
For a look at what ’s next ( place - wise ) in 2019 , check out this articlehere .
