Quadrantids

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The Quadrantids are a meteor shower.

The meteors appear to radiate from an area inside the constellation Boötes. The name comes from Quadrans Muralis, an obsolete constellation that is now part of Boötes.

The parent body of the Quadrantids was recently tentatively identified (in a paper by Peter Jenniskens) as the minor planet 2003 EH₁, which in turn may be the same object as the comet C/1490 Y1 which was observed by Chinese, Japanese and Korean astronomers 500 years ago.

The best date to view the Quadrantids is January 3rd, although they can viewed from the 1st through 5th. The peak hours are from nightfall to midnight, although in 2006 they will be seen easier after the waxing moon has set.

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