Posted in Alabama Nature January 01, 2020 by

Watch Up To 100 Meteors Per Hour In The First Meteor Shower Of 2020, Visible From Alabama

What better way to kick off the New Year than to watch a spectacular astronomical display across the sky? The first meteor shower of 2020 is only a few days away. This type of meteor shower is known as a Quadrantid meteor shower, and you can learn all about it below.

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The Quadrantid meteor shower is the first meteor shower that takes place each year. For 2020's Quadrantid meteor shower, you can expect to see up to100 meteors per hour. After all, they've been known to produce 50-100 meteors per hour in the past.
flickr/NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center
So, what exactly is a Quadrantid? Well, it's a type of meteor that's often referred to as a "fireball meteor." What makes it unique compared to other types of meteors is that it's much brighter and its color lasts much longer.
flickr/Bill Dickinson
The best time to watch this year's Quadrantid meteor shower is during the late night hours of January 3 until dawn January 4. There will be no moon during the predawn hours, which makes it much easier to see the Quadrantids.
flickr/Josh Beasley
The Quadrantids’ peak will only last a few short hours, so you've got to be in the right spot in order to view them. Any place at mid-northern and far-northern latitudes will most likely work best.
flickr/Tom Lee
Even though the Quadrantid meteors will radiate from the northern sky, they'll appear in all parts of the sky.
flickr/Donovan Shortey
Don't forget to mark your calendar! This year's Quadrantid meteor shower is an event you don't want to miss!
flickr/Luis Argerich
For additional information about this year's Quadrantid meteor shower, click here. It truly is a sight to behold!

Do you plan to watch the Quadrantid meteor shower this year? If so, let us know in the comments below.

If you love anything and everything that has to do with space, you’ll most certainly want to visit the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama. For information about this amazing space museum, be sure to take a look at the following article: 11 Fascinating Facts You Probably Didn’t Know About The U.S. Space & Rocket Center In Alabama.

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