![]() The comet, spotted by astronomers using the Zwicky Transient Facility at the Palomar Observatory in San Diego County, California, is named C/2022 E3 (ZTF) and will make its closest pass of Earth on February 2. In addition to the meteor shower, a recently discovered comet will soon make its appearance in January’s night sky.ĭiscovered in March 2022, the comet will make its closest approach to the sun on January 12, according to NASA. Each year, Earth passes through this debris trail for a short time. The shower’s peak is short because only a small stream of particles interacts with our atmosphere, and the stream occurs at a perpendicular angle. This particular asteroid is 2003 EH1, which takes 5.52 years to complete one orbit around the sun. Like the Geminid meteor shower, the Quadrantid comes from a mysterious asteroid or “rock comet,” rather than an icy comet, which is unusual. The constellation Quadrans Muralis, first observed and noted in 1795 between Boötes and Draco, is no longer included in the International Astronomical Union’s list of modern constellations because it’s considered obsolete and isn’t used as a landmark for celestial navigation anymore, according to EarthSky. That’s because the Quadrantids’ namesake constellation no longer exists - at least, not as a recognized constellation. If the meteor shower’s name sounds odd, it’s probably because it doesn’t sound like it’s related to a constellation, like other meteor showers. And give your eyes about 20 to 30 minutes to adjust to the darkness - without looking at your phone - so the meteors will be easier to spot.Ī beginner's guide to stargazing (Courtesy CNN Underscored) Make sure you have a chair or blanket so you can look straight up. If you’re able to find an area unaffected by light pollution, meteors could be visible every couple of minutes from late evening until dawn.įind an open area with a wide view of the sky. If you live in an urban area, you may want to drive to a place that isn’t full of bright city lights. View the skies for at least an hour, the American Meteor Society advises. You may even glimpse some fireballs during the meteor shower. Watch the northeastern sky, and look about halfway up. ![]() The Virtual Telescope Project will also have a live stream of the shower over Rome.īetween 50 and 100 meteors are typically visible per hour, especially in rural areas, although the peak can include up to 120 visible meteors in an hour. The Quadrantids won’t be visible in the Southern Hemisphere because the shower’s radiant point doesn’t rise that high in its sky before dawn.Ĭheck Time and Date’s site to see what your chances are like to view the event, or step outside to take a look for yourself. ![]() The later time favors those in the eastern part of North America and the earlier time is more favorable for observers across Europe. Predictions for the shower’s peak range from 10:40 p.m. Moonset will occur just before dawn, providing a very small window to spot the shower against dark skies. A bright, nearly full moon will make the Quadrantids even less visible this year. ![]() ![]() However, the shower is notoriously hard to observe due to its brief peak of six hours and January’s often inclement weather in the Northern Hemisphere. Sky-gazers in the Northern Hemisphere can best view the shower between the late-night hours of Tuesday and dawn on Wednesday. The celestial event is typically among the strongest meteor showers and is expected to peak overnight January 3 and 4, according to the American Meteor Society. The new year kicks off with the Quadrantids, one of 12 annual meteor showers. ![]()
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