2024 Quadrantid Meteor Shower: Peak Time, How to Watch, and What to Expect

KOMPAS.com – For the first time in 2024, the peak of the Quadrantid meteor shower astronomical phenomenon will occur on Wednesday (3/1/2024).

Reporting from Forbes, the Quadrantid meteor shower is one of the best annual meteor shower phenomena.

Although not as famous as the Perseid and Geminids meteor showers which appear in August and December respectively, the Quadrantid meteor shower is one of the most interesting celestial events to witness throughout 2024.

During peak Quadrantid showers, you can witness around 60-200 shooting stars per hour.

Quadrantids are also known for their bright fireball meteors.

They are called fireballs because of the larger explosions of light and color that can last longer than the average meteor streak. This is due to the fact that fireballs originate from larger material particles.

So, when is the best time to see Quadrantid meteors?

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Peak time for the Quadrantid meteor shower

The Quadrantid meteor shower phenomenon can be seen throughout the world, including Indonesia.

National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) astronomy and astrophysics researcher Clara Yono Yatini said the Quadrantid meteor shower phenomenon has been going on since December 28, 2023.

However, the peak of the Quadrantid meteor shower only occurred in January 3-4, 2024.

“The peak will be January 3-4 2024, from midnight to early morning,” said Clara when contacted by Kompas.com, Monday (1/1/2024).

According to him, the peak of the Quadrantid rain phenomenon will occur in midnight to 4.00 in the morning.

“Around midnight on January 3 until dawn on the 4th,” he added.

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How to watch the Quadrantid meteor shower

Clara confirmed that the Quadrantid meteor shower can be seen in Indonesian skies, if the weather permits.

“It can be seen from Indonesia as long as the weather permits,” he said.

To witness the Quadrantid meteor shower phenomenon, you don’t need to use special equipment.

This astronomical phenomenon can be witnessed with the naked eye.

Reporting from the NASA page, the best Quadrantid meteor shower can be seen in the Northern Hemisphere. To see them, look for an area away from cities or street lights.

You can choose a chair or lie on your back with your feet facing northeast and looking up.

Wait until dawn, the Quadrantid meteor shower will appear and decorate the sky.

For information, the Quadrantid meteor shower originates from the asteroid 2003 EH1. 2003 EH1 is a small asteroid measuring about two miles (three kilometers) in diameter.

Asteroid 2003 EH1 takes 5.52 years to orbit the Sun once. It is possible that EH 2003 is a “dead comet” or “rock comet”.

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2024-01-02 13:30:00
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