WeatherFanatics: Storm, Moon May Affect Viewing Conditions for First Meteor Shower of 2015

Thursday, January 1, 2015

Storm, Moon May Affect Viewing Conditions for First Meteor Shower of 2015

By Mark Leberfinger, AccuWeather.com Staff Writer

January 1,2015; 7:50PM,EST

The first storm of 2015 is likely to hamper viewing conditions in the United States for the first meteor shower of the year known as the Quadrantids.
The storm will strengthen and take a track toward the lower Great Lakes this weekend.
Another factor may also conspire with viewing conditions during the meteor shower's peak on Friday night as a waxing gibbous moon whose light may wash out all but the brightest meteors.

The radiant point of the Quadrantid shower makes an approximate right angle with the Big Dipper and Arcturus, according to EarthSky.
The best time to watch the meteors will be before dawn Saturday.
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It looks like the viewing will be good across the Northeast and in Florida, but there will be numerous clouds everywhere else east of the Rockies, AccuWeather.com Senior Meteorologist Dave Samuhel said.
"It should be clear up and down the West Coast from Seattle to Los Angeles and also be clear across most of the Four Corners states," Samuhel said.
After the Quadrantids, the next major meteor shower - the Lyrid shower -- is expected between April 16 to 25, 2015.

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