–
The Quadrantid meteor shower has been estimated by scientists to peak on Sunday tomorrow, January 3, 2021. This is a phenomenon and the first celestial event to start the new year 2021.
Then, interestingly, we can see this meteor shower event with the naked eye. That means without using tools such as binoculars or even a telescope.
Quadrantid Meteor Showers
Meteor showers will decorate the sky and experience a peak on January 4, 2021 tomorrow. This celestial event is also very interesting because we can see it with the naked eye.
There is one more interesting thing. As NASA said, if this event occurs and experiences a peak, there are around 60-200 Quadrantid meteors. With a note, in perfect visible condition.
Launching Space.com, the event from the Quadrantid meteor shower is a meteor shower which at the time reaches the shortest peak of its kind.
Then, this meteor shower has been going on since December 28, 2020 and will occur until January 12, 2021.
Its presence in the sky can be seen from the east with a short duration. For Indonesia itself, it will have a share to witness this event, although only a little.
Baca Juga: Hujan Meteor Ursid Tahun 2020, Fenomena Cantik Akhir Tahun
When to Watch It?
During its peak, the moon will be about 81 percent full moon and can sweep meteors from Quadrantid sightings.
“The moon will be an obstacle to the Quadrantid meteor shower which is the hope,” said the International Motor organization on the 2021 meteor shower calendar.
Then, they added if you can watch the meteor at 9:30 am EST (at 1430 GMT) on Sunday.
To be sure, you can watch the peak night quite briefly. So, the best time is to go out and look for meteor showers when the moon sets. When the moonlight can’t disturb your view of the dark part of the night sky.
According to Avivah Yamani, a Bandung astronomer, the peak of this event occurred from the Bootes constellation which appeared at 02:43 WIB in the northeast.
The convex moon that appears at 21.48 WIB will become natural light pollution in the Quadrantid meteor hunt. Not only that, this meteor shower will occur optimally and experience a peak in intensity in just a few hours.
On the peak night of the event, you will be able to see around 110 meteors per hour with a movement of 41 kilometers per second. Then, for the best position in observing this meteor shower event, namely on the northern part of the Earth.
Baca Juga: Hujan Meteor Alpha Monocerotid Fenomena Langka, Catat Tanggalnya!
Origin of the Quadrantid Meteor Rain
Unlike the usual types of meteor showers from comet debris, The Quadrantids is a meteor shower that originates from the 2003 EH1 asteroid which has the possibility of being an extinct comet.
“It was part of the comet or even from the comet itself and eventually became extinct,” said Bill Coke, a NASA meteorologist. This means that all the ice and other volatile substances on the comet have evaporated.
Asteroids have perihelions (the closest distance to the sun) that are exactly in the direction in Earth’s orbit. Which is also far enough for space terms.
Scientists also thought that the asteroid might have a relationship with comet 96P or Machholz, which is a comet that orbits the sun every six years.
The first observations of the Quadrantid meteor shower appeared and occurred over European skies in the 1820-1830s.
How To Watch It?
You don’t need to use binoculars or a telescope if you’re going to watch a meteor shower. Your naked eye can also see clearly for the shooting star that is shooting.
If you observe it, there is a dark sky with minimal light, so give your eyes about 20-30 minutes to adjust the conditions.
Don’t forget to keep your body warm by wearing thick clothes and face your face slightly away from the light in Bootes (Boot constellation).
Then, as a way of capturing the phenomenon of a longer Quadrantid meteor shower sky, you can find it by looking for the North Big Big Dipper. (R10 / HR Online)
Publisher: Jujang
—
