Where:

Frosty Drew Observatory and Science Center

When:

Wed, Jan 3, 2024 - CLOSED

Cost:

$5 Suggested Donation per Person

UPDATE: January 3, 2023 at 15:00:
Unfortunately, overcast conditions will prevail overnight tonight through tomorrow. Best viewing of the meteor shower will require the sky to be clear, and cloudy conditions will not permit meteor viewing. We will attempt another opening on Friday. January 5, 2023 for our regular Stargazing Nights event.
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The Quadrantid Meteor Shower is one of the best (if not the best) meteor shower of the year. Quite a lively display, the Quadrantides can produce upwards of 120 meteors per hour during the peak when the Moon is not present. Most meteors are typically bright with a greenish hue, many of which are fireball meteors. The 2024 showing will bring the 45% waning gibbous Moon, which will obscure all dim meteors after the 12:03 am rise time. Unlike other meteors showers, the Quadrantid peak is quite brief, lasting about 3-6 hours in duration. Peak times for the Quadrantid shower are tricky to predict and could fall during daylight hours.

The Quadrantid Meteor Shower has a very brief peak period, lasting only 3-6 hours in duration. Timings of the peak period have a significant impact on how awesome the shower will be. The radiant point of the shower, the defunct constellation Quadrans Muralis, is located in between the handle of the big dipper and the constellation Bootes. This region of the sky sits on the north horizon at 8:00 pm for our location, and will ride the NNE horizon until about 9:30 pm. The higher in the sky the radiant point the better the shower. The 2024 peak is predicted to occur at 7:53 am on January 4, which does not bode well for observers as it places best observation times during the morning hours when the Moon is out.

Temperatures will be cold so be sure to dress warm! Winter coats, long johns, thick socks, hat, gloves, good winter shoes, and blankets (while observing meteors) are a necessity. Be sure to bring a blanket to lay on or a reclining chair for optimal meteor observation.

Take a minute to read up on visiting the Frosty Drew Observatory and catch up on what to / not to bring and how to adequately prepare for a comfortable nigh of meteor watching.

Please note that we do not allow any white lights on our campus or in Ninigret Park from dusk - dawn, with the exception of low beam headlights while in motion. This is to ensure an equally awesome view of the night sky for all and to allow for the use of light sensitive astronomical equipment. Learn more about why we have this requirement in The Red Light District.

Grab those binoculars, dust off that telescope, and join us under the beautiful dark skies at Frosty Drew Observatory and kick off the year with the Quadrantids!