January 2019 will be an exciting month for astronomers, who will be keeping a keen eye on the sky as it goes through a number of changes. First, we have the annual Quadrantid meteor shower, which is taking place tonight. After the shower has passed by the Earth, viewers in the UK will bear witness to a Blood Moon, which will bathe the sky in a foreboding crimson glow come January 21.
The Quadrantids are feature for the night’s sky every half decade, as the collection of meteors is caught within the Sun’s orbit.
They were first discovered 16 years ago in 2001, by astronomer Peter Jenniskens.
The Quadrantids have a parent body in the asteroid 2003 EH1, the fractured remains of which are the meteors.
This asteroid takes roughly five-and-a-half years to orbit the Sun, so viewing the showers is a rare opportunity.
Can you see the Quadrantids tonight?
The Quadrantids this year will be visible from January 1 to 6 but will be easiest to see early on.
From January 3 to 4 the meteor shower will be at its peak, so a larger number of meteors will be visible.
As with all astrological events, the ability to see the Quadrantids will be entirely dependant on the weather.
Unfortunately tonight has yielded some bad conditions for sky watching, as almost the entirety of the UK is overcast.
If somehow you do manage to gain a small section of clear sky tonight, however, the best time to see them is early on Friday morning.
The first peek of the meteors will start at midnight tonight and they will last up until dawn on Friday, when light will begin to obscure them.
The Royal Observatory based in Greenwich has issued advice for those braving cold conditions tonight to catch a glimpse of the rare sight.
The Royal Observatory advises: “Hunting for meteors, like the rest of astronomy, is a waiting game, so it’s best to bring a comfy chair to sit on and to wrap up warm as you could be outside for a while.
“They can be seen with the naked eye so there’s no need for binoculars or a telescope, though you will need to allow your eyes to adjust to the dark.
“For the best conditions, you want to find a safe location away from street lights and other sources of light pollution.
“The meteors can be seen in all parts of the sky, so it’s good to be in a wide open space where you can scan the night sky with your eyes.”