Unusual meteor shower approaching peak activity in Okanagan, Kamloops

The Quadrantids meteor shower is considered by NASA to be one of the best meteor showers of the year, and it is unusual for several reasons.

The winter meteor shower is active between Dec. 26 and Jan. 16, with peak activity on the night of Saturday, Jan.3 when 60 to 200 Quadrantid meteors can be seen every hour under perfect conditions, according to NASA.

Meteors occur when Earth passes through debris trails of dust and ice left behind by comets and the bits collide with our atmosphere and flare up as they disintegrate.

The Quadrantids are unusual because they originate from debris left by an asteroid instead of a comet. The asteroid 2003 EH1 was discovered in 2003. It is only three kilometres across and takes more than five years to orbit the sun.

Meteor showers typically appear to radiate from constellations which are called the meteor’s radiant. The Quadrantids appear to radiate from a constellation called Quadrans Muralis that no longer exists, and is now considered part of constellation Bootes, located near the end of the handle of the big dipper.

Another thing that makes this meteor shower unusual is that in only reaches peak activity for a few hours, as opposed to a few days. The peak is short because the Earth crosses the stream of particles at a perpendicular angle.

First seen in 1825, the Quadrantids are known for bright fireball meteors which are larger explosions of light that last longer than an average meteor streak.

The Quadrantids are best viewed in the Northern Hemisphere, however, this year viewing conditions at its peak are limited due to light from a full moon.