Quadrantid Meteor Shower Alert! & Fireball Meteor break-up

[Galactic2000]

Hi All,


The 2011 Quadrantid Meteor Shower will peak on the Night of January 3rd to the morning of 4th.
Monday night until Tuesday morning.

You can start watching after 2:30am in the North to North East look between the handle of the Big Dipper -Ursa Major and the Constellation of Bootes or the Kite shaped constellation, this is the radiant location as the Meteors will appear to radiate from this general area.

Or after 2:30am simply look between the North Star and bright star Arcturus in the East.
The Quadrantid Meteors will appear to be coming from this general area of the sky.

There is no moon present during this year's shower, so you can watch all night if you like without moonlight interfering, but the best time will be after 2:30am.

As the night goes on the Big Dipper, Bootes, & Arcturus climb higher into the sky, so keep watching because the number of meteors usually picks up after 2:30am and gets better through 6:00am. as Earth rotates into the stream.

Meteors can appear anywhere in the sky, so look in all directions of the sky as the Quadrantid radiant reaches straight over head.

The Quadrantid Meteors are rather Fast movers, they enter the atmosphere at about 90,000 to 120,000mph, and can have some impressive long trails.

Many meteors showers are the debris particles from Comets, but the Quadrantid Meteors are debris from the Near Earth Asteroid 2003 EH1, which is now really a dead comet.

Key things for observing are: to get out of the City lights whenever possible, find a dark location, dress warmly, as January nights can be very cold!

You'll need to bring a Beach/Lawn chair that allows you to lay back or recline comfortably to look at the sky, & a blanket, as well as something warm to drink.

You can expect to see about 120 meteors per hours from a dark location, that is about 2 meteors every minute or so!

Enjoy one of the finest & most active Meteor Showers of the 2011 Winter sky,
Those willing to brave the cold temperatures are usually rewarded with an amazing display!

Back in 1994 I captured this spectacular Fireball Meteor Break-up, so you never know what kind of surprise the sky has waiting for you to see!

Have A Safe & Happy New Year everyone!