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We welcome the new year with a bang as the Quadrantid Meteor Shower graces the
night skies from January 3 to January 7. According to PAGASA, during its peak on
January 4, 40 to 120 Quadrantids can be seen per hour in perfect conditions. It will start around 12 a.m. and ends in the early morning of January 5.

Unlike most meteor showers that originate from comets, Quadrantids are remnants
of an asteroid called 2003 EH 1. Quadrantids were first seen by French Astronomer
Jerome Lalande in 1825 in the constellation, “Quadrans Muralis”.

 

The Constellation Quadrans Muralis (Photo Courtesy: NASA)

 

In 1992, after the International Astronomical Union published a list of recognized
modern constellations, Quadrans Muralis was left off the list. However, NASA
assured that this would not affect our viewing since the constellation is not the
source of the meteors.

Here’s how you can witness the Quadrantid Meteor Shower:

• Choose a secluded viewing spot away from city lights.

• Arrive early at the chosen viewing spot to give your eyes time to adjust to the
dark.

• Wear comfortable and weather-appropriate clothes.

• Be patient. Observing meteors may take a lot of time.

• Enjoy!

GF1

The tail-end of a cold front now affects Mindanao, bringing cloudy skies with light to moderate rain showers, particularly over the regions of Northern Mindanao, CARAGA and Central Visayas, as well in the provinces of Leyte and Negros Occidental.

Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon will be experiencing fair weather conditions, apart from isolated light rains due to the prevailing northeast monsoon.

The remaining parts of Visayas and Mindanao can expect partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms in the following hours.

Meanwhile, State Meteorologist Buddy Javier says that although the satellite shows a cluster of clouds outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility, it has a low chance of developing into a low pressure area.

THE JANUARY NIGHT SKY

On this first week of 2015, the northern hemisphere night sky is favored by the first meteor shower of the year.

The annual Quadrantid meteor shower has been active since January 1 and will last until January 7. Peaking on the first weekend of the year, between midnight and dawn of January 3 and 4, a rate of at least 40 meteors per hour can be seen, says Engr. Dario Dela Cruz, PAGASA Space Sciences and Astronomy Section Chief.

However, the almost fully illuminated moon hinders the display this year, making visibility a challenge to avid skywatchers, except for a very short window of peak activity.

The said meteor shower was named after the extinct 17th century constellation Quadrans Muralis or the Wall Quadrant.