Quadrantid Meteor Shower

The Quadrantids are an annual meteor shower that is a consequence of Earth passing through the debris field of a crumbling comet some 500 years ago.  If you have an opportunity to witness this event - depending upon your location - it has the potential of producing as many as 100 shooting stars an hour. 

For those of us in North America the Quadrantids will reach its maximum rate of activity tomorrow on January 4^th.  Some shooting stars associated with the shower began on January 1^st and will continue thru January 6^th.  

Observing the show on the peninsula requires a location with little light pollution and a view towards the north-northeast between the North Star and the Big Dipper.  Fortuitously, this month's New Moon on Jan. 5 will help keep skies dark. 

Source: Stellarium

From The Platz, the shower will appear 15° above the north-eastern horizon at midnight. This means that with optimal viewing conditions I might see as many as 20 meteors per hour.  That's far less than 100 since the source will be low in the sky - reducing the chance of seeing meteors.  But 20 is more than nuthin.  Viewing prospects for your own location can be found here. 

Raising a toast to clear, winter night skies and viewing the heavens...