Meteors Ringing in the New Year are the fleeting fireworks of the Quadrantids that peak this year around dawn on January 4 th . The presence of the waxing gibbous Moon above the horizon will mean only a handful of the brighter shower members may be seen, if any. The Quadrantids exhibit a short, sharp peak lasting only a few hours with the radiant in northern Bootes. Activity during the month of February is domiated by a handful of minor showers with low rates from the Leo-Virginid complex. Sporadic activity tends to be very loose too with it difficult to distinguish shower members from the general sporadic back-ground. Therefore, the known showers in the month are more suited to telescopic work.
Swiped from Januarys Arcturus and Sky High 2004 courtesy of John Flannery and Liam Smith.
Cheers,
~Al
Albert White MSc FRAS
Chairperson, International Dark Sky Association - Irish Section
www.darksky.ie/
  