“SHOOTING STARS”
by Joe Rao, SPACE.com Skywatching Columnist
“If you enjoy the sight of “shooting stars” then make plans to be out looking skyward during the predawn hours on Wednesday (Jan. 4) when a strong display of Quadrantid meteors may appear. This first meteor shower of the year may end up being one of the best of 2012.
To paraphrase Forrest Gump: The Quadrantid meteor shower is like opening up a box of chocolates; you never know what you’re going to get! Indeed, the Quadrantids are notoriously unpredictable, but if any year promises a fine display, this could be it.
Peak activity is due to occur early on Wednesday at about 2:30 a.m. EST (0730 GMT) and favors eastern North America. The Quadrantid meteor shower sky map above shows where to look to see the display.
The Quadrantids (pronounced KWA-dran-tids) provides one of the most intense annual meteor showers, with a brief, sharp maximum lasting but a few hours. Adolphe Quetelet of Brussels Observatory discovered the shower in the 1830s, and shortly afterward it was noted by several other astronomers in Europe and America. [First Photos: The 2012 Quadrantid Meteor Shower]”
| The first major meteor shower of 2012 takes place on the night of Tuesday, Jan. 3 and the morning of Wednesday, Jan. 4. It peaks at 2 a.m. EST (0700 GMT) on Jan. 4. CREDIT: Starry Night Software |
Good Morning Gloucester 
Cool, I was just going to write up a post about the meteor shower tonight but you have all the info!
One more bit. You can start seeing these after midnight but after the moon sets at 3AM it will be prime time. (Peak could be 2:30AM but you never know with meteor showers.) Look to the Dippers, Big and little, and just a bit down and to the left but once you see one it will be obvious. It could be a real show between 3AM and 5AM.
NASA has a link to a camera shooing that section of sky from Alabama. Watching it might tell you when to get your coat on and get outside. Get your eyes dark adapted (just keep your lights out) and stare up there into the inky blackness:
http://www.nasa.gov/topics/solarsystem/features/watchtheskies/quadrantids_2012.html
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I may get a good show on the way to work in the morning . I leave at 4:AM.
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I was surprised to see this was a Paul Frontiero post, as I immediately assumed it was Paul Morrison. Great post Paul, and great add on Paul. I’m afraid I won’t be up and outside between 3-5:00 am on the most bitterly cold night of the New Year. If you guys are, take pictures!
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What are you trying to say?
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A coat-worthy venture not to miss!!
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Too cold to get away from a pine forest blocking my location last night. Did anyone get out there and see any?
Somebody did:
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I saw one meteor this morning on my way into the People’s Republic of Cambridge a little after 5. I probably just caught the tail end. Cool though.
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I tried at 2:3 for about 20 minutes with no luck so bailed.
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Same here. was very disappointed. saw a few faint ones but that was it. I think it was over hyped. bummer. I froze my WINEBAGO OFF!
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