Meteor Shower from January 1 to 7, 2011 says PAGASA

(To enlarge the graphic, just click on it)

The annual Quadrantid meteor shower will be active from January 1 to January 7, 2011 said the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) Astronomical Observatory in Diliman, Quezon City. The observation of its peak activity on January 3-4 in which meteors or “falling stars” can be seen at the rate of at least 40 meteors per hour. The shower will appear to radiate from the constellation of Bootes, as shown in the figure above. The Quadrantid meteor shower hits the Earth’s atmosphere at the rate of about 40 kilometers per second. The incinerated dust are said to be particles apparently derived from the debris ejected by the near-Earth asteroid 2003 EH.

For more information, click on the PAGASA website here: http://121.58.193.23/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=350:astronomical-diary-for-march-2010&catid=158:astronomical-events&Itemid=459