During the first days of each year, one of the most spectacular astronomical events occurs in the Northern Hemisphere, the Quadrantid Meteor Shower. This year 2014 will also be especially bright thanks to the fact that the Moon is in its new phase and the visualization of the asteroid remains will not disturb with its light.
According to NASA this year the peak of the meteor shower will occur at night from January 2 to 3, in the first hours of it. In addition, according to their calculations, an average of 80 shooting stars will fall, although this number can vary between 60 and 200 as the night progresses.
Like the Geminids, the Quadrantids originate from asteroid 2003 EH1. In its orbit, after hundreds of years revolving around the sun, some debris enters our atmosphere at about 90,000 miles per hour (about 40 km / s), irretrievably burning about 80 kilometers from the Earth's surface.
The Quadrantids take their name from the constellation 'Quadrans Muralis', discovered by the French astronomer Jerome Lalande in 1795 . This constellation is located between those of Bootes and Draco and its name derives from an astronomical instrument used hundreds of years ago to use the stars. As explained from NASA, Although the constellation is no longer recognized by astronomers, it gave its name to this meteor shower for the first time in 1825, and so on to this day.
If you are in the southern hemisphere and you will not be able to see the meteor fall live, NASA will broadcast it live from Alabama.
