Quadrantids
WHEN: 3-12 January, peaks on the night of the 3rd/4th
JANUARY 2016 GETS off to a relatively good start as far as meteors are concerned with the return of the annual Quadrantid meteor shower, which peaks on the night of the 3rd/4th.
The actual peak is predicted to occur on the morning of the 4th at around 08:00 UT, so the best viewing window is likely to be from around 22:00 UT on the 3rd through to dawn on the 4th. To further amplify the validity of this period, there are suggestions that the peak, which with the Quarantids is typically sharp and only lasts for a few hours, may occur earlier between 22:00 UT on the 3rd and 02:00 UT on the 4th.
The radiant position lies to the north of Boötes, in the region between Boötes, Draco and Hercules. The best way to visualise it is to extend a line from mag. +2.5 Izar (Epsilon (¡) Boötis) and mag. +3.5 Nekkar (Beta (`) Boötis) for about three-quarters the distance again.
Named after the now defunct constellation of Quadrans Muralis, the Quadrant, the Quadrantid meteor shower has a healthy zenithal hourly rate of 120 meteors per hour. However, this isn’t written in stone, with low years producing
Keystone Quadrantids radiant 3/4 Jan
12 Jan
Plough
28 Dec
Nekkar half that rate, while exceptional displays may go up to 600 meteors per hour for short periods. The source of the shower isn’t absolutely known, with suggestions stating that it could be comet 67P/ Machholz or more likely from the asteroid 2003 EH1. This asteroid may be the extinct nucleus of the comet C/1490 Y1.
Alkaid
Kite
Izar
Arcturus
The shower is active from 28 December to 12 January. The Moon will be a 31% lit waning crescent on the morning of 4 January, rising around 02:30 UT. As January doesn’t tend to be particularly warm, cold-weather clothes are an essential accessory for observing the Quadrantids!