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When the Carnionid meteor shower reaches its peak on Friday, it will be your first chance of the year to see a fireball in the sky.
A waning crescent moon means good visibility in both clear and dark conditions.
Most meteor showers are named after the constellation in the night sky where they appear to occur. But the Prinidae meteor shower “takes its name from a constellation that no longer exists,” said NASA’s William Cook.
These meteors usually don’t have long lines, but their heads can look like bright fireballs. According to NASA, up to 120 meteors could appear per hour at this peak.
Observations will continue until January 16th. Here’s what you need to know about the Quadriids and other meteor showers.
What is a meteor shower?
Several times a year, as the Earth orbits the Sun, it passes through debris left by passing comets and sometimes asteroids. The origin of the Quadriids meteor shower is debris from asteroid 2003 EH1.
When these fast-moving space rocks enter Earth’s atmosphere, the pieces encounter new resistance from the air, become extremely hot, and eventually burn up.
Sometimes the surrounding air flashes for a moment, leaving behind a fiery tail, or the end of a “shooting star.”
You don’t need any special equipment to observe the various meteor showers that flash on and off every year, just a short distance from the city lights.
How to see meteor showers
The best time to see the meteor shower is before dawn, when the moon is low in the sky.
Competing light sources, such as a bright moon or artificial glow, are the main obstacles to seeing meteors clearly. Cloudless nights, when the moon is least waned, are the best viewing opportunities.
And keep looking up, not down. Your eyes are better adapted to spotting shooting stars if you’re not checking your phone.
The Quadriids meteor shower peaks on nights when the thin crescent moon is visible, but it is only 11% full.
When is the next meteor shower?
The next meteor shower, the Lyrids, peaks in mid-April.
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