The Quadrantid meteor shower reaches its peak tonight, offering stargazers in the UK a chance to witness up to 50 shooting stars per hour. This year's viewing conditions are ideal due to a thin crescent moon, minimizing light interference.
This evening offers stargazers a second opportunity to witness a dazzling display of shooting stars across the UK sky. The celestial spectacle promises up to 50 shooting stars per hour, making it one of the year's most spectacular annual meteor shower s. According to the Royal Astronomical Society, the Quadrantid meteor shower will reach its peak tonight, January 3, either in the early morning before dawn or in the evening after sunset.
Unlike most meteor showers that have a two-day peak, the Quadrantids have a very sharp peak lasting only a few hours, according to the Royal Astronomical Society's deputy director, Dr. Robert Massey. This means the viewing rates will be slightly lower than during the shower's peak activity at 15:00 GMT on January 3. However, Dr. Massey assures that the intensity remains strong if you are fortunate enough to be in the right place at the right time. The UK will see fewer shooting stars than locations on the west coast of the US or in the Pacific region, but the display is still impressive. A key advantage this year is the absence of a full moon, as the moon is a very thin crescent, minimizing light interference and improving viewing conditions. Dr. Massey recommends finding a location as far from light pollution as possible. He adds that while the Quadrantids are not the brightest meteors overall, they do produce a notable number of fireballs, which are exceptionally bright meteors. For those who have the time and clear weather, Dr. Massey urges them to take advantage of this celestial treat
Astronomy Meteor Shower Quadrantids Shooting Stars UK
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