It’s been determined that the Quadrantid meteor shower is associated with the asteroid 2003 EH1 – which is suspected to be the remains of a comet. As the Earth passes through the orbital path of this possible “extinct comet”, the left-over debris burn up in the atmosphere and we see them as streaks of light known as meteors.
Viewing the 2011 Quadrantid Meteor Shower
Now that the 2010 Total Lunar Eclipse has passed, it’s time to prepare for the next celestial event – the 2011 Quadrantid Meteor Shower. The Quadrantid meteor shower is an annual meteor shower that is active during January 1st through January 10th every year. The maximum peak of this year's shower is expected to be on January 4th, around 8:00pm EST for North American observers. While the maximum rate of meteors will likely be seen through the nights of January 3rd through January 5th, dedicated meteor watchers should observe the meteor shower through these nights to increase their chances of seeing more meteors.
Under clear skies, the sky watcher should observe between 30 to 50 meteors per hour – and this shower has been known to produce more than 100 per hour. The moon will not interfere with this year’s Quadrantid meteor shower since the shower takes place during the new moon period. If you are observing from a location away from light pollution and are under clear skies, this meteor shower should be a wonderful experience.
The “radiant” (or location in which they seem to appear), is located near the constellation Bootes. While Bootes will be somewhat near the horizon during the peak of the shower, many meteors should still be observed. To better find the location of the radiant of the meteor shower, find Polaris (the North Star), at the tip of the Little Dipper’s handle, and observe near that area.
Also, don't forget to try for the January / February 2011 Alpha Centaurids - A Minor Meteor Shower
Protection from the Winter Cold
Winter is now here and it will likely be very cold during the peak of this years Quadrantid meteor shower. Take caution when staying outdoors for long periods of time. When you are setting your plans to observe this meteor shower, remember to wear plenty of warm clothing, consume hot beverages such as coffee or hot cocoa, and even take blankets along for extra protection.
If you are planning to make this a family event, make double-sure you have lots of warm clothing for children. Not only do they get cold easy, they will very likely decide to call off the meteor shower observing and find somewhere warm. Try and keep them comfortably warm so they too can enjoy the show.
Photographing the Meteor Shower
There are a number of methods performed to photograph meteors, but most commonly a standard camera – capable of taking long exposures – is used. If a digital camera is used; plan in advance to have the battery fully charged and have extra batteries if possible. Taking long exposures has a tendency to drain camera batteries rather quickly.
To photograph the meteors, simply use a wide field lens and point the camera towards the expected radiant of the shower. A tripod is almost a necessity to do this effectively. Set the camera to take 1 to 3 minute exposures, focus, and start taking photographs. If the shutter is open and a meteor shows itself, the camera should record it as a streak on the image. Catching meteors on photographs is not only fun, but often provides a wonderful picture to show off.
The Occasional Fireball
The Quadrantid meteor shower is also known to produce what’s known as a fireball. A fireball is nothing more than a very bright meteor that quite often leaves a short or sometimes long lived “smoke trail”; and they sometimes show signs of break-up as the meteor enters the atmosphere. Fireballs are most commonly useful to meteorite researchers as they can use any visual or photographic information from them to possibly search for debris that may have made their way to the Earth’s surface. While you shouldn’t expect to have meteorites landing in your back yard, you can expect to see fireballs in this meteor shower.
Remember to Have Fun, its Astronomy!
No matter how many meteors are observed during the 2011 Quadrantids Meteor Shower, remember to have fun and use this as a learning experience for children. Since meteors can be observed from this shower fairly early in the night hours, it will be a favorable shower for children to observe without staying up too late. They will remember the experience and cherish it for a lifetime!
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Steve Farmer - Steve Farmer Jr. is an individual of many interests and hobbies. When not spending time with his wife and four children, he is an employee ...
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