Quadrantids

Lore & Background

The Quadrantids derive their name from Quadrans Muralis, a former constellation created in 1795 by French astronomer Jérôme Lalande that included portions of Boötes and Draco. In early January 1825, Antonio Brucalassi in Italy reported a multitude of falling stars appearing to radiate from Quadrans Muralis. In 1839, Adolphe Quetelet of Brussels Observatory and Edward C. Herrick in Connecticut independently suggested the Quadrantids are an annual shower.

The meteor rates exceed one-half of their highest value for only about eight hours, compared to two days for the August Perseids, indicating the particle stream is narrow and apparently deriving within the last 500 years from some orbiting body. The parent body was tentatively identified in 2003 by Peter Jenniskens as the minor planet 2003 EH1, which may be related to the comet C/1490 Y1 observed by Chinese, Japanese and Korean astronomers some 500 years ago.

In 1922, the International Astronomical Union (IAU) devised a list of 88 modern constellations, which did not include Quadrans Muralis; the IAU officially adopted this list in 1930. Despite the constellation's obsolescence, the meteor shower still retains the name Quadrantids.

Reader's Guide

The Quadrantids are notable for matching the ZHR of the Perseids and Geminids, two of the most reliably rich meteor showers, yet they are less frequently observed because their peak is exceedingly narrow, sometimes lasting only hours. The shower is best seen in the northern hemisphere, but can be seen partly to 50 degrees south latitude. Its radiant lies at the northern edge of Boötes, between the end of the Big Dipper's handle and the quadrilateral of stars marking the head of Draco. The stream's narrowness suggests a recent origin within the last 500 years, with the parent body tentatively identified as minor planet 2003 EH1, possibly linked to comet C/1490 Y1. The shower's name persists from the obsolete constellation Quadrans Muralis, created in 1795 and omitted from the modern 88-constellation list adopted by the IAU in 1930. Early reports by Brucalassi in 1825 and independent annual-shower suggestions by Quetelet and Herrick in 1839 established its recognition.

Did You Know?

• The Quadrantids' peak lasts only about eight hours above half maximum, compared to two days for the Perseids.
• The parent body was tentatively identified in 2003 as minor planet 2003 EH1 by Peter Jenniskens.
• The shower's name comes from the obsolete constellation Quadrans Muralis, created in 1795 by Jérôme Lalande.
• In 1839, Adolphe Quetelet and Edward C. Herrick independently suggested the Quadrantids are an annual shower.