"Shooting stars" from the brilliant Quadrantid meteor are kicking off a new year of skywatching for Filipinos.
According to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) Acting Administrator Dr. Vicente Malano, the annual Quadrantid meteor show will be active from Jan.1 to Jan. 7.
He said the observation of its peak activity is Jan. 3-4 in which meteors or "falling stars" can be seen at the rate of at least 40 meteros per hour. The meteor shower will appear to radidate from the constellation of Bootes, which is below the Big Dipper constellation, in the northeast horizon.
Malano explained that the meteor shower hits the Earth's atmosphere at the rate of about 40 kilometers per second!
Good luck with your skywatching!