The new year starts with the
Quadrantids meteor shower observations. As with all meteor showers, the name
comes from the constellation where the radiant resides (the region where the
meteors seem to originate). The Quadrantids meteor shower originates from the
constellation Quadrans Muralis, which depicts a quadrant. This constellation no
longer exists in the modern adaptation of IAU constellations. The radiant
association for the meteor shower was made in the early 1800s, but the parent
body responsible wasn't identified until 2003.
P. Jenniskens of the SETI Institute discovered that the minor planet 2003 EH1, found by the Lowell Observatory Near-Earth-Object Search (LONEOS) telescope, was responsible for the Quadrantids meteor shower.
The minor planet 2003 EH1 is an Amor-class asteroid, a type of Near-Earth Asteroid (NEO) that orbits the Sun with a semi-major axis of more than 1 AU and does not cross Earth's orbit.
2003
EH1 orbits the Sun every 5.52 years, with a perihelion distance of 1.2 AU and
an aphelion distance of 5 AU.
The Quadrantids meteor shower
peaks on January 3rd at 8:30 PM IST. The number of meteors seen can range from
as low as 60 to as high as 200 ZHR (Zenithal Hourly Rate). At Bangalore's
latitude, the radiant rises at 2 AM, and the location of the Quadrantids'
radiant is above Beta Bootes.
The observation session for the
Quadrantids can begin from 1 AM, looking north and towards the zenith away from
the radiant. Scanning in and around constellations Ursa Major, Leo, and Virgo
will give a good chance of spotting meteors.
Choose a place with a good view
of the northern skies and zenith; a house or apartment terrace will work well.
Clear skies are essential for good visibility, so check the weather forecast. There
is no need for any optical aid, like binoculars or telescopes.
An early start will help in familiarizing
oneself with the skies and constellations. The low brightness of the meteors
may pose a challenge, but with patience, one can spot them. To know if the
meteor seen is a Quadrantid, draw an imaginary line in the opposite direction,
and the line should pass through the radiant location above the Bootes
constellation.
