Quadrantids Meteor Shower Rings in the2009 New Year.

Early January is highlighted by the return of the Quadrantids meteor shower, which is expected to peak sometime during the morning of January 3rd for their 2009 edition.  This time the pesky moon will not be around to interfere.  Viewing conditions will be very dark at the time of their peak.  The Quadrantids are usually faint. So you still may want to get out away from city lights and you may see up to 2 meteors per minute with this shower.  

The Quadrantids are known for having a very sharp peak, so in the nights leading up to the 3rd you may not see too much activity.  The best time to try to catch the Quadrantids will be after midnight, more towards the early morning hours, especially along the west coast of the United States and Canada.  

The radiant for the Quadrantid Meteor shower is from the constellation known as Quadrans Muralis.  This constellation was created in 1795 by Joseph Jerome le Francais de La Lande. The constellation Quadrans Muralis outline is traced as a mural quadrant which is was used to plot the stars in the sky. The constellation is no longer in use on modern sky charts, but you can look in the sky where Hercules, Bootes, and Draco meet in the sky.