Shooting Stars On Tap Tonight

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 60 to 200 shooting stars an hour. 

For those of us in North America the Quadrantids will reach its maximum rate of activity tonight - January 3.  Some shooting stars associated with the shower began on January 1^st and will continue thru January 4^th.  It is short-lived yet has big potential.

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.  Unfortunately this month's full moon materialized yesterday and its light will interfere with all but the brightest meteors.  The predicted peak for the Quadrantids is just before dawn tomorrow morning when they can produce as many as 100 shooting stars per hour.  Fortunately, this meteor shower is known to produce really bright fireballs that even the moon cannot outshine.    

You do not necessarily need to locate the radiant to observe the meteor shower as the shooting stars will appear in all parts of the night sky.  Viewing prospects for your own location can be found here.

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