In December, we saw the arrival of the spectacular Geminid meteor shower in our state. Whether you were able to catch it or not, you may be wondering when we can expect another stellar display of falling meteors here in Nevada. Well, it turns out you won’t have to wait very long at all! Another highly anticipated meteor shower will be visible this month. This one is called the Quadrantid meteor shower and it’s definitely worth looking out for as the peak of this shower approaches.
The Quadrantid meteor shower will be the first big astronomical event of 2022, so you’ll want to be sure to get outside and catch it.
Jeff Sullivan/Flickr Expected to peak in early January, this meteor shower marks a spectacular start to the new year.
The Quadrantid meteor shower is actually already active and is expected to remain that way until January 16th. However, you’ll want to be sure to mark your calendars for January 3rd-4th, which is when the shower will be at its ultimate peak.
andrew4bellamy/Flickr
Assuming perfect nighttime conditions, the Quadrantid shower will produce around 120 meteors per hour during its peak.
Dave Dugdale/Flickr The moon will be in “new” phase, too, so viewing conditions ought to be nice, weather allowing.
The sight of meteors shooting across the pitch black sky is always a spectacular thing to witness.
David Kingham/Flickr However, the experience takes on a whole new meaning when you take a moment to consider that these meteors have made an annual appearance for centuries, and will continue to do so for centuries to come.
Interestingly enough, experts aren’t entirely sure what the parent object of the Quadrantid meteors is.
Diana Robinson/Flickr However, in 2003, an astronomer hesitantly identified the parent object as an asteroid named EH1, which in turn may be a comet that was observed by astronomers up to 500 years ago!
The Quadrantids are a notably rich meteor shower, but it’s also known for its unusually short peak time.
Mike Lewinski/Flickr Some years, the meteor shower peaks for just a few hours. This means it’ll be as important as ever to get out on the evening of January 3-4 and catch the sight of these shooting meteors while you can.
Generally, the Quadrantid’s peak occurs around 2 a.m., so prepare for a late night. Lucky for us, the absence of moonlight should make for great meteor-viewing conditions.
NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center/Flickr Now, all we have to hope for are clear skies!
Are you excited for another amazing meteor shower in our state? Show us your photos of meteor showers past in the comments below! Get some inspiration for possible stargazing spots by reading up on The Remote Park In Nevada That’s One Of The Darkest Places In The Nation.
Jeff Sullivan/Flickr
Expected to peak in early January, this meteor shower marks a spectacular start to the new year.
andrew4bellamy/Flickr
Dave Dugdale/Flickr
The moon will be in “new” phase, too, so viewing conditions ought to be nice, weather allowing.
David Kingham/Flickr
However, the experience takes on a whole new meaning when you take a moment to consider that these meteors have made an annual appearance for centuries, and will continue to do so for centuries to come.
Diana Robinson/Flickr
However, in 2003, an astronomer hesitantly identified the parent object as an asteroid named EH1, which in turn may be a comet that was observed by astronomers up to 500 years ago!
Mike Lewinski/Flickr
Some years, the meteor shower peaks for just a few hours. This means it’ll be as important as ever to get out on the evening of January 3-4 and catch the sight of these shooting meteors while you can.
NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center/Flickr
Now, all we have to hope for are clear skies!
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The OIYS Visitor Center
Quadrantid Meteor Shower In Nevada January 03, 2022 Tori Jane When is the next meteor shower in Nevada? With the start of every new year, there’s always the promise of more amazing and delightful night sky events to look forward to. Nevada, like other places, has plenty of amazing dark-sky zones where you can escape to watch these events unfold. Meteor showers tend to occur in January, April, May, early June, July, August, September, and October, November, and December. That’s most of the year right there! Of course, some are larger than others – the largest meteor showers of the year are the Perseids, in August, and the Leonids, in November. If you miss one, not to worry: there will always be plenty more, and every one of them presents an opportunity to glimpse a rare “fireball” meteor. Don’t forget to look up! What are some interesting outdoor things to do in Nevada? You know, folks don’t seem to give Nevada enough credit. It’s so much more than just a “boring” desert wasteland; in fact, there are all sorts of amazing and intriguing landscapes all over the state, and in those landscapes, there is plenty to be done. The possibilities are only as limited as your imagination; for example, did you know there are caves to be explored ‘round these parts? It’s true! Head to Great Basin National Park and check out the amazing Lehman Caves. It’s an incredible marble cave with more than 300 shield formations, which are a rare sight to behold. Go mountain biking on any of Nevada’s lovely trails (there are at least 900 trails perfect for just such an activity). Tube the river. Go camping! Go fishing, mountain climbing, or geocaching. Truly, Nevada can be wonderful for anyone interested in the outdoors; you can find all sorts of biomes here, too, from woods to desert and everything in between. Get out and explore, and while you’re at it, here’s a list of more fun outdoors things to do in Nevada.
The OIYS Visitor Center
Quadrantid Meteor Shower In Nevada
January 03, 2022
Tori Jane
When is the next meteor shower in Nevada? With the start of every new year, there’s always the promise of more amazing and delightful night sky events to look forward to. Nevada, like other places, has plenty of amazing dark-sky zones where you can escape to watch these events unfold. Meteor showers tend to occur in January, April, May, early June, July, August, September, and October, November, and December. That’s most of the year right there! Of course, some are larger than others – the largest meteor showers of the year are the Perseids, in August, and the Leonids, in November. If you miss one, not to worry: there will always be plenty more, and every one of them presents an opportunity to glimpse a rare “fireball” meteor. Don’t forget to look up! What are some interesting outdoor things to do in Nevada? You know, folks don’t seem to give Nevada enough credit. It’s so much more than just a “boring” desert wasteland; in fact, there are all sorts of amazing and intriguing landscapes all over the state, and in those landscapes, there is plenty to be done. The possibilities are only as limited as your imagination; for example, did you know there are caves to be explored ‘round these parts? It’s true! Head to Great Basin National Park and check out the amazing Lehman Caves. It’s an incredible marble cave with more than 300 shield formations, which are a rare sight to behold. Go mountain biking on any of Nevada’s lovely trails (there are at least 900 trails perfect for just such an activity). Tube the river. Go camping! Go fishing, mountain climbing, or geocaching. Truly, Nevada can be wonderful for anyone interested in the outdoors; you can find all sorts of biomes here, too, from woods to desert and everything in between. Get out and explore, and while you’re at it, here’s a list of more fun outdoors things to do in Nevada.
The OIYS Visitor Center
The OIYS Visitor Center
With the start of every new year, there’s always the promise of more amazing and delightful night sky events to look forward to. Nevada, like other places, has plenty of amazing dark-sky zones where you can escape to watch these events unfold. Meteor showers tend to occur in January, April, May, early June, July, August, September, and October, November, and December. That’s most of the year right there! Of course, some are larger than others – the largest meteor showers of the year are the Perseids, in August, and the Leonids, in November. If you miss one, not to worry: there will always be plenty more, and every one of them presents an opportunity to glimpse a rare “fireball” meteor. Don’t forget to look up!
What are some interesting outdoor things to do in Nevada?
You know, folks don’t seem to give Nevada enough credit. It’s so much more than just a “boring” desert wasteland; in fact, there are all sorts of amazing and intriguing landscapes all over the state, and in those landscapes, there is plenty to be done. The possibilities are only as limited as your imagination; for example, did you know there are caves to be explored ‘round these parts? It’s true! Head to Great Basin National Park and check out the amazing Lehman Caves. It’s an incredible marble cave with more than 300 shield formations, which are a rare sight to behold. Go mountain biking on any of Nevada’s lovely trails (there are at least 900 trails perfect for just such an activity). Tube the river. Go camping! Go fishing, mountain climbing, or geocaching. Truly, Nevada can be wonderful for anyone interested in the outdoors; you can find all sorts of biomes here, too, from woods to desert and everything in between. Get out and explore, and while you’re at it, here’s a list of more fun outdoors things to do in Nevada.