Watch Up To 100 Meteors Per Hour In The First Meteor Shower Of 2022, Visible From Mississippi

Think fireworks are the only reason to admire the night sky in early January? Think again! Just a few days after the New Year’s celebrations end, the sky will be set aglow by the Quadrantid meteor shower in Mississippi, the first meteor shower of the year. Not only is it the first, but it’s also one of the most active celestial events in Mississippi, so you don’t want to miss it. Read on for all the important details.

The first meteor shower of the year is the Quadrantid meteor shower. It technically begins December 12th and ends a month later, on January 12th. However, it will produce its peak rate of meteors around January 3rd.

It’s called the Quadrantid meteor shower because Quadrantids are the types of meteors you’ll see during the amazing celestial display.

Meteor shower dates don’t change much annually, so the Quadrantid meteor shower happens every year in early January.

Dependability isn’t the only thing that makes it easy to catch a meteor shower, though. There’s also the fact that meteor showers can be viewed from just about anywhere – a specific location doesn’t matter.

With 60 – 100 meteors visible per hour during its peak, it’s the 3rd most active display of the year, following the Geminid and Perseid meteor showers.

However, unlike the Geminid and Perseid meteor showers, which last days, the Quadrantid meteor shower will be at its peak for only a few hours.

For those of us in North America, the best time to view the meteor shower is in the pre-dawn hours.

Quadrantids tend to be a bit fainter than other meteors, but they produce explosions of light and color, making for a mesmerizing sight.

Don’t worry about digging out the binoculars – you don’t need any special equipment to view a meteor shower. In fact, the naked eye is best way to take in the spectacular show in the sky.

The only thing needed for viewing the upcoming meteor shower is clear, dark skies. Luckily, the moon will have set as the shower approaches its peak, resulting in ideal viewing conditions.

When choosing a viewing spot, you should pick a place that’s free of lights and an abundance of trees, which can block visibility.

Anyone living in a rural area should have no problem viewing the meteor shower from the comfort of their own backyard.

Can’t view the meteor shower from home? Consider taking a drive down one of the state’s many country roads.

Or, pay a visit to one of Mississippi’s award-winning state parks. And since most of the parks include campgrounds, you can turn your night of celestial fun into an overnight adventure as you camp under the stars.

Want to know more about meteor showers in Mississippi? To view the Farmers Almanac Meteor Shower Calendar, click here. For more information on Mississippi’s state parks, click here.

So, did you know about the Quadrantid meteor shower in Mississippi? Have you watched it in years past? Are there any other celestial events in Mississippi that you watch every year? Tell us!