PAGASA: Meteor showers this week

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) urged yesterday astronomy enthusiasts in the country to watch out for the annual Quadrantid meteor showers this week.

In its monthly astronomical diary, Pagasa said the Quadrantid meteor shower will be active from Jan. 1 to Jan. 7.

“The observation of its peak activity on Jan. 3 to 4 in which meteors or ‘falling stars’ can be seen at the rate of at least 40 meteors per hour,” the weather bureau said.

Reports said no moon would interfere with the viewing of the meteors this week. Pagasa said the shower will appear to radiate from the constellation of Bootes.

“The Quadrantid meteor shower hits the Earth’s atmosphere at the rate of about 40 kilometers per second,” the weather bureau said.

“The incinerated dust are said to be particles apparently derived from the debris ejected by the near-Earth asteroid 2003 EH,” it added.