Quadrantids meteor shower to peak over Britain on Sunday

http://www.theguardian.com/science/2015/jan/04/quadrantids-meteor-shower-peak-britain

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The first meteor shower of 2015 is set to peak over Britain on Sunday.

But astronomers warned that the annual Quadrantids shower, which could boast 80 meteors per hour during its peak, could prove a disappointment because of the near-full moon.

Nasa pointed out that “a bright and waxing gibbous moon will wash out all but the brightest meteors”, while a spokesman for the Royal Astronomical Society (RAS) noted that “the problem is that the moon is quite prominent in the sky so the view of the average person is not going to be terribly impressive but you might get lucky and see a moderately bright” meteor.

British-based onlookers who hope to catch a sight of the flurry may need to be looking skywards in the early hours through to about 5am and possibly away from large towns and cities, according to the RAS.

The peak of the Quadrantids shower, which is short but intense, is best viewed in the northern hemisphere, although it can also be seen at latitudes north of 51 degrees south.

It is believed that the Quadrantids originate from an asteroid called 2003 EH1.