William Atkins
Sunday, 03 January 2010 21:58
Science -
Space
Page 1 of 2
The annual Quadrantid meteor shower is expected to peak on January 3, 2010, with favorable viewing skies over Eastern Europe and Asia. Many of the meteors within the Quadrantids will appear bluish in color.
The peak of the Quadrantid meteor shower is expected to occur at approximately 1900 Universal Time (UT) on January 3rd, or 2 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST) in the eastern region of the United States.
The blue and bright meters will be traveling fast across the night sky—at about 40 kilometers (25 miles) per hour.
Many may be visible over halfway across the sky. Some of them may leave a trail of dust that will be easily seen.
The center (or radiant) of this meteor shower comes from the constellation Boötes.
The name Quadrantids comes from an older name for a constellation (Quadrans Muralis) that is no longer used by astronomers.
This no-longer-used constellation lies within the constellation
Boötes—which is positioned between the end of the handle of the Big
Dipper and the grouping stars that make up the head of the
constellation Draco.
See the sky map of where the meteors will appear at the
Photosbykev.com website and, more specifically, at the
Space-e-zone.com website.
Page two continues with more information on the Quadrantids, including the parent body of this meteor shower.
