Buzz
The first major celestial event of 2019 kicks off the evening of Thursday, January 3. Each year, the Quadrantid meteor shower graces the early days of January and is regarded as one of the most spectacular meteor showers to witness. If you’re eager to see this show before it vanishes again, here’s where you should focus your gaze.
As reported by The Washington Post, the Quadrantids are expected to reach their peak between 9 and 10 p.m. Eastern time Thursday night. Viewers in Eastern and Central Europe will have the clearest view, possibly observing up to 120 meteors per hour burning brightly in the atmosphere. In the U.S., the meteors will appear low in the sky during the peak, with much of the display obscured below the horizon.
However, in areas with clear, dark skies, U.S. spectators may still catch up to 40 meteors an hour. The shower will begin in the northern sky around 8 to 9 p.m. Eastern time and gradually shift north-northeast by 10 p.m. By 1 a.m., the meteors will reach their highest point in the northeastern sky.
Unlike other meteor showers such as December's Geminids, the Quadrantids only last for one night rather than spanning several days. Their peak activity typically lasts about four hours, which means that certain regions miss the display entirely in some years. The Quadrantids are unique because they originate from the debris trail of an asteroid, whereas most meteor showers occur when Earth passes through the tail of a comet.
