What if I say the night sky also celebrates the New Year? Sounds amusing but it is what it is. The night sky puts a spectacular display of celestial fireworks, a meteor shower from 26th December 2024 to 12th January 2025, named “Quadrantids Meteor Shower.”
The Quadrantid meteor shower is known to be one of the best annual meteor showers. Mark the dates in your calendar and don’t miss this meteor shower because everyone needs a good start.
Now let us know more about the meteor shower and the reasons why you shouldn’t miss the spectacular Quadrantids meteor shower.
To get the best view of the meteor shower be sure to observe it at its peak where you can witness up to 100 meteors per hours i.e. on January 4th 2025.
To understand the Quadrantid meteor shower let’s first understand the astronomical terminologies used to describe a meteor shower.
What is a meteor shower?
Have you ever seen a shooting star and wondered where it came from? Have you seen people in movies praying when they see a shooting star? So what exactly is a shooting star?
A shooting star is basically a dust particle from a comet that has entered the Earth’s atmosphere. Due to the earth’s atmosphere, the dust chunks burn itself in the upper atmosphere leaving a beautiful streak of light, what we call as a meteor.
There’s also a very interesting misconception that the meteor, meteorite, and meteoroid are the same. But the answer is obviously no, the three of them are fundamentally different in aspects of position and velocity .
Credits: Asteroid day
Let us try to understand them, when the dust from a comet or asteroid floats in orbit of any planet in space it is known as a meteoroid, when this meteoroid enters the earth and burns itself, the self-burn of the dust chunks is known as a meteor, most of the time the meteors get turned to ashes in the air itself and don’t reach the ground. If a meteor reaches the ground then it is termed a meteorite, the impact of a meteoroid creates craters where it lands. The Lonar Lake in Maharashtra is formed due to the impact of an asteroid, this is one of the best examples of a meteor strike
To learn more about Lonar Lake consider reading,
A magical Visit to the lonar Crater .
Origin of Quadrantids meteor shower
The Quadrantid meteor shower stands out as a unique astronomical event due to its uncommon origin. Unlike most meteor showers that originate from comets, the Quadrantids come from an asteroid, named 2003 EH1. This asteroid, discovered in 2003, is relatively small, with a diameter of only 2 miles (3.2 kilometers). The Asteroid is classified as a “rock comet” or “dead comet,” further adding to its distinction.
Historically, the Quadrantids were part of the now-defunct constellation Quadrans Muralis, which is why the meteor shower retains this name. Today, its radiant lies near the handle of the Big Dipper constellation. First observed in 1825, the Quadrantids have a brief but intense peak each January, making them a special highlight for stargazers despite being less well-known than other meteor showers.
Preparations to watch Quadrantids Meteor shower
The preparations for enjoying the Quadrantids meteor shower is very easy due to the display of fireballs. A few measures to be considered to observe one of the most beautiful phenomena of the universe. Here are a few steps that ensure a mesmerizingl observation of the Quadrantid meteor shower
- Pick a place that has low light pollution(away from cities)
- Lay down at a place where you can get the maximum view of the night sky
- Carry warm clothes
- Use stellarium/starwalk to find the Big Dipper and navigate different constellations in the sky.
- Bring a tripod, for photography
Credits:Earthsky.org
Historical & Mythological significance of Quadrantids Meteor shower
The Quadrantid meteor shower, unlike many others, is not linked to any specific mythology. However, its historical significance lies in its association with the now-defunct constellation Quadrans Muralis. This constellation was named after the astronomical instrument “quadrant,” which was used to observe stars. Though the constellation itself has faded into obscurity, its legacy lives on through the name of the meteor shower, highlighting the importance of Quadrans Muralis during its time.
In 1922, the International Astronomical Union (IAU) formalized a list of modern constellations, and Quadrans Muralis was excluded. Despite this, the Quadrantid meteor shower preserves its name, serving as a reminder of the constellation’s once-prominent role in astronomy.
Why the Quadrantids meteor shower?
The Quadrantids meteor shower is the first meteor showerl of the year 2025. The Quadrantids meteor shower has a peak rate of 70-100 meteors per hour. The meteor shower is visible across the entire night sky but the radiant of the meteor shower lies near the tail of the Big dipper constellation. The sparkles of the meteor shower are very bright (with a magnitude of -3) and the meteor travels with a velocity of about 35 miles per second. The Quadrantids meteor shower is also known as the bright fireball meteor and these streaks across the sky are bigger compared to other meteors, this makes the Quadrantids meteor shower best suited for astrophotography.
Credits:skywalk
Start the New Year Under the Shooting Stars
The Quadrantids Meteor Shower marks the end of 2024 and the start of a new year with a celestial spectacle. Witness the beauty of the Quadrantids Meteor Shower with Stargazing Mumbai and explore the wonders of the cosmos together. Click here, to join us for an unforgettable experience under the stars! To know more about other such events do follow us on Instagram handle by clicking here.
