Quadrantid Meteor Shower

3rd Jan 2017
Author: Tamela Maciel

Quadrantids

This week, the Quadrantids peak on the night of the 3rd and morning of the 4th January 2017. This above-average meteor shower produces up to 40 meteors an hour.

The cause of the Quadrantids is a bit of a mystery, but it’s thought that the asteroid 2003 EH1 is the source of the debris. If so, then the Quadrantids are similar to last month’s Geminids, which are also produced by a rocky body instead of the usual icy comet. How asteroids leave behind such a debris trail is still uncertain.

Nevertheless the debris is there and as it hits Earth’s atmosphere at high speed, it heats up and disintegrates in flashes of light that we call meteors.

The Quadrantids typically produce up to 40 meteors an hour, and luckily this year the waxing crescent Moon will set early, leaving the sky dark and perfect for spotting meteors. Scan the sky anytime between midnight and dawn on the night of the 3-4 January.

How to Watch

The Quadrantids are named after a historic constellation called Quadrans Muralis as this is the direction from which they appear to originate. But Quadrans Muralis no longer exists as one of the 88 official constellations. Now the radiant point is best found by looking near the handle of the Plough and the bright star Arcturus.

While the meteors appear to originate from near the Plough, they are best seen 30 degrees away from origin, so be sure to keep careful watch across the whole sky.

To view the Quadrantids from the UK, head outside anytime between midnight and dawn.

Look up, keep an eye on the whole sky, and find a location as far from city lights as you can.

The Quadrantids are active between 1-5 January 2017, but tend to have a very narrow peak time. So be sure to try to catch them on the night of the 3-4 January.