On the night of January 2 to 3, hundreds of shooting stars will light up the sky during the Quadrantids, despite unfavorable weather.
More than 120 shooting stars per hour. Every January, Quadrantid meteorites light up the sky for two days to offer a true cosmic spectacle. This year, this astronomical phenomenon, similar to the Gemenids of December, or the Perseids of July, will reach its peak on the night of January 2 to 3.
The first shooting stars are visible this Thursday evening, despite unfavorable weather in France, with clouds covering most of the country. For the lucky ones who could benefit from an open sky, it will be enough to look towards the North-East and admire the light trajectories left by the stars. To fully enjoy the spectacle, you will need to dress warmly, be patient and hope for mild skies.
Up to 200 meteors per hour
The quadrantides are considered to be “one of the best annual meteor showers” by NASA. According to the website of the American space agency, these meteor showers normally have a peak of two days compared to only a few hours for the quadrantids. But when they reach their peak, as is the case tonight, up to 200 meteors per hour can be observed.
Furthermore, unlike most meteor showers which come from comets, the quadrantids come from the asteroid 2003 EH1. The shooting stars observed are in fact debris from this asteroid which enter the atmosphere at a speed of 40 km/s, which creates the slight light traces visible in the sky. According to NASA, the quadrantids are known for their more persistent light and their larger than average size. Far from any visual and light pollution, the show should last all night.
Tech
