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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsIf you have clear skies and will be up past midnight...
You should check out the Quadrantids tonight. I've never caught this shower, but it sounds spectacular. It has a very narrow window which makes it all the more intriguing.
Midnight Sunday to Dawn Monday.
http://earthsky.org/tonight/quadrantid-meteor-shower-before-dawn-in-early-january?utm_source=EarthSky+News&utm_campaign=7a80087e7f-EarthSky_News&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_c643945d79-7a80087e7f-394533365
The annual Quadrantid shower is nominally active during the first week of January, and is best seen from northerly latitudes. However, peak activity lasts less than a day. So you need to be on the night side of Earth when this shower exhibits its relatively short peak to witness the Quadrantids. In 2016, we dont expect the waning crescent moon to seriously obtrude on this meteor shower. So if youre game, try watching between midnight and dawn on January 4.
This meteor shower favors the Northern Hemisphere. Thats because its radiant point the point in the sky from which the meteors appear to radiate is far to the north on the skys dome.
The Quadrantid meteor shower is capable of matching the meteor rates of the better known August Perseid and December Geminid showers. It has been known to produce up to 50-100 or more meteors per hour in a dark sky.
So why isnt the Quadrantid shower as celebrated as the Perseid and Geminid showers? Its because the Quadrantid shower has a narrow peak that lasts for only a few hours. If you miss the peak which is easy to do you wont see many meteors.
http://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/everything-you-need-to-know-quadrantid-meteor-shower
Below is an image that displays who might have the ability to catch this brief yet spectacular shower. This year we're right in the ideal window.
Good luck everyone. Sadly rain and clouds are my conditions, but I'm still posting hoping others might catch this shower.
(This is repost from yesterday, but I think it's worthy. If not, I won't be offended if it gets locked.)
elleng
(131,063 posts)Getting COLD, but CLEAR! 36 now!
virtualobserver
(8,760 posts)The dipper is just over the horizon and skies are clear.
clu
(494 posts)I drove 230+ miles to get proper dark sky for the geminids last month... I got a lot of decent pictures that I haven't yet animated. I'm hoping the moon and weather cooperate this August.
Cassiopeia
(2,603 posts)on peak night for the Geminids. 87 was my final count over about 100 minutes. Not too shabby.
I'm missing this one. Held out hoping the clouds would break, but it's just not to be.
hfojvt
(37,573 posts)(he posts at midnight central time)
skies are too murky right now.
cui bono
(19,926 posts)but I'm near downtown so all those lights make it harder to see stars and things in the sky at night.
Meh.... it's overcast with only patches of open sky and I can't even see one star.
Anyway, I have to go to bed now.
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