Circumpolar action

In the fable “Chicken Licken” poor Chicken Little is struck on her head by a falling acorn, prompting her to warn everyone yelling, “The sky is falling!”  January’s desert sky watchers won’t have acorns striking them.  However, from the very crisp, early morning sky of January 4 you may see a fabulous meteor shower–the Quadratids.

This year’s Quadratid “falling stars” may be one of 2011’s best meteor showers.  Barring any cloudy skies, the meteor shower will not be hindered by moonlight.  It is a New Moon.  The best viewing time will be before dawn, January 4.  That should be the shower’s  peak .  A few days before and following the fourth falling stars may also be seen, but not in such numbers.

The starry desert sky has always fascinated and held me spellbound.  Throw in a meteor shower and that experience is like a Fourth of July celebration.  Years ago, while in Death Valley, I saw between 60-80 Quadratids falling stars per hour.  The shower persisted until the gradually rising sun washed the night sky away.

Writer Steve Farmer says on Suite101.com that “under the clear skies, the sky watcher should observe between 30 to 50 meteors per hour–and this shower has been known to produce more than 100 per hour!”

In viewing the meteor shower Farmer also advises, “…remember to wear plenty of warm clothing, consume hot beverages such as coffee or hot cocoa, and even take blankets along for extra protection.”

“The Quadratids are known to produce fireballs, meteors that are of magnitude -5 or brighter,” says Robert Lunsford of the American Meteor Society.  After burning out,  some of these fiery meteors may leave a sparkling trail or “train” from “one-half to one-second after the meteor has disappeared,” according to Lunsfor.

A typical meteor is a particle of rock or metal usually smaller than a pea.  Meteorids enter Earth’s atmospher betwween 50,000-165,000 miles per hour.

The falling stars will appear to radiate from the constellation Bootes, the Herdsman, in the northeastern sky.  Look below the “handle” of the Big Dipper, looking like a huge question mark in the morning sky.  To best view the shower relax in an outdoor reclining chair to support your back and neck.  Face northeast and get the fullest view of the sky possible.  Just watch and wait.  Meteors will be falling before you know it.

I have found it easier to stay up all night watching meteor showers, rather than setting an alarm to get up for them.  Leaving a nice warm bed on a cold night is just too hard to do.  In your watching, should you feel a thump on your head, it won’t be an acorn.  More than likely, it’s someone waking your recliend body from slumber.  Stay awake!  Don’t miss the meteor shower.

I want to also look at the sky.  The desert sky is an amazing place to look at.  There have been some nights we were out there and you could literally get sucked into outer space by it’s beauty.  I always imagine those astronauts and what it must be like to be all alone floating in space.  It has got to be a scary experience.

The extreme insignificance of our tiny beings vs the endless size of the universe.  If you stare out at the sky in the middle of the night with all the lights out and block your peripheral vision it almost feels like you are out there.

I also can’t wait to explore the new canyons we discovered.  We have always had the most fun when we explore a new place.  These canyons look pretty promising too.

Anyway, just thought I would share my thoughts.  I am excited to get back out there and stare at the stars once again.  Hopefully with clear skies and more heat this time   Oh, and of course water!