Quadrantids Meteor Shower 2011

I hope members and their friends can make this event at our observatory. The evening is for Wednesday 4th January 2012 at the observatory from 7.00pm till very late.

The zenithal hourly rate is predicted to be 80. The radiant is in Bootes not far from the tail of the Ursa Major at Declination +50 and RA 15h 28m.

This observing session is a challenge as it is just after the festive season and the weather is normally unpleasant. The radiant is very low in the north during the early evening but we can use the C11 for general observing and then later do one hour recorded watches.

As the radiant rises higher to an altitude of around sixty degrees by dawn, with the ten day old moon setting about 3.30am, we will see plenty of meteor activity. We could be pleasantly rewarded with plenty of blue and yellow meteors for our efforts, but remember you are members of WAS not the SAS!

This shower has unsocial hours but if the sky is clear throughout the event then all becomes very worth while. The memories remain and the tiredness gets forgotten.

Weather willing our observatory will be open from 7.00pm till dawn for general viewing as well as recording the shooting stars we see. Members are invited to come and go as they wish throughout the night.

Please telephone me if in doubt about the seeing conditions, contact me on 01903 505346.

Graham Boots.

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