TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taipei Astronomical Museum (北市天文館) announced on Thursday (Jan. 2) that the Quadrantids meteor shower, one of the three major meteor showers, will peak early Saturday, offering ideal viewing conditions in Taiwan. The museum plans to stream the event live from Hehuanshan (合歡山) starting at 8 p.m. on Friday via its YouTube channel, engaging viewers with expert commentary and interaction.
The Quadrantids, named after an ancient constellation used for celestial measurements, now fall within the modern-day Boötes constellation. The International Astronomical Union (國際天文學聯合會) abolished the original constellation in 1922, but the meteor shower retains its historical name.
This year's Quadrantids will feature meteors with moderate speed and bright fireballs, originating from asteroid 2003 EH1, which the museum suggests might be a comet with depleted volatile materials. The International Meteor Organization predicts the Quadrantids will peak around 2 a.m. on Saturday, with a zenithal hourly rate (ZHR) of up to 120 meteors.
Taiwan's location offers a prime viewing corridor for this celestial event. The radiant point will rise in the northeastern sky at 12:30 a.m. on Jan. 4, with increasing meteor activity and no moonlight interference, providing optimal conditions for stargazers in open, dark-sky locations until dawn.