Quadrantid meteor shower to peak overnight

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By Diane Tennant
The Virginian-Pilot
© January 3, 2012

The first meteor shower of the new year should peak between 2 and 3 a.m. Wednesday, with clear skies forecast for Hampton Roads.

Cold temperatures and gusty winds could make viewing uncomfortable, but the Quadrantid shower is expected to produce up to 100 meteors an hour at its best.

Sky and Telescope magazine suggests looking at whatever part of the sky is darkest, probably straight up.

The Quadrantid meteors are thought to be debris from a comet that fell apart about 500 years ago.

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