This article is from the source 'washpo' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/meteors-streak-through-the-sky-sunday-night-at-a-rate-of-100-an-hour/2016/01/02/e7e3d050-afd1-11e5-b711-1998289ffcea_story.html

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Meteors streak through the sky Sunday night at a rate of 100 an hour Meteors streak through the sky Sunday night at a rate of 100 an hour
(about 1 hour later)
The heavens revel in the young year as meteors, the moon, a dim comet and five visible planets frolic — and some dance together — through the night.The heavens revel in the young year as meteors, the moon, a dim comet and five visible planets frolic — and some dance together — through the night.
Jupiter rises around 10:40 p.m. in the eastern heavens. The planet, seen at a bright -2.2 magnitude, snuggles between the constellations Leo and Virgo. Late in January, the large gaseous planet rises about 8:45 p.m., while the chubby, waning gibbous moon hangs above Jupiter on Jan. 26, then leapfrogs the planet the next night. Jupiter rises about 10:40 p.m. in the eastern heavens. The planet, seen at a bright -2.2 magnitude, snuggles between the constellations Leo and Virgo. Late in January, the large gaseous planet rises about 8:45 p.m., while the chubby, waning gibbous moon hangs above Jupiter on Jan. 26, then leapfrogs the planet the next night.
Looking like a beacon from above, Venus rises around 4:30 a.m. in the east, chilling in the constellation Scorpius. The planet seems to beam at a -4.0 magnitude (very bright). Throughout the rest of this week, Venus and the ringed Saturn (zero magnitude, far more dim than Venus) appear to move closer — that is, until those planets conjunct on Saturday. The waning crescent moon hovers above Venus and Saturn on Wednesday morning, and then to the left of the two planets on Thursday. Looking like a beacon from above, Venus rises about 4:30 a.m. in the east, chilling in the constellation Scorpius. The planet seems to beam at a -4.0 magnitude (very bright). Throughout the rest of this week, Venus and the ringed Saturn (zero magnitude, far more dim than Venus) appear to move closer — that is, until those planets conjunct Saturday. The waning crescent moon hovers above Venus and Saturn on Wednesday morning, and then to the left of the two planets on Thursday.
Mars rises about 1:40 a.m. in the eastern sky, in the constellation Virgo early in January, as a first magnitude object. Our reddish neighbor remains quite high in the southern sky by sunrise. Late in the month, it rises just after 1 a.m. Incidentally, Sunday is the summer solstice on Mars, according to the Planetary Society (planetary.org). The last Martian summer solstice was Feb. 15, 2014 and the next one will be Nov. 20, 2017. Mars rises about 1:40 a.m. in the eastern sky, in the constellation Virgo early in January, as a first magnitude object. Our reddish neighbor remains quite high in the southern sky by sunrise. Late in the month, it rises just after 1 a.m. Incidentally, Sunday is the summer solstice on Mars, according to the Planetary Society (planetary.org). The last Martian summer solstice was Feb. 15, 2014; the next is Nov. 20, 2017.
Find the fleet Mercury loitering in the western evening sky for about the next week, when it sinks toward the sun. By late January the fast little planet emerges in the eastern sky — rising before the sun at about 6:30 a.m. By Jan. 22, it’s about a 1.2 magnitude and brightening rapidly to start February. Find the fleet Mercury loitering in the western evening sky for about the next week, when it sinks toward the sun. By late January the fast little planet emerges in the eastern sky — rising before the sun about 6:30 a.m. By Jan. 22, it’s about a 1.2 magnitude and brightening rapidly to start February.
The Quadrantid meteors streak through on Sunday and Monday nights, with a predicted peak time of 3 a.m. on Monday. Although about 100 meteors an hour are predicted, according to the International Meteor Organization (imo.net), you may see only a handful because of urban and suburban light pollution. In the same region of sky, where the Quadrantid meteors seem to emanate, the double-tailed Comet Catalina (C2013 US10) is near the bright star Arcturus, in the constellation Bootes. Find the comet with binoculars before sunrise, high in the east. The Quadrantid meteors streak through Sunday and Monday nights, with a predicted peak time of 3 a.m. Monday. Although about 100 meteors an hour are predicted, according to the International Meteor Organization (imo.net), you may see only a handful because of urban and suburban light pollution. In the same region of sky, where the Quadrantid meteors seem to emanate, the double-tailed Comet Catalina (C2013 US10) is near the bright star Arcturus, in the constellation Bootes. Find the comet with binoculars before sunrise, high in the east.
● ●Tuesday:Astronomer Elizabeth Warner explains upcoming sky events of 2016, at the University of Maryland’s Observatory, College Park. 8 p.m. After the talk, enjoy heavenly tours through telescopes. www.astro.umd.edu/openhouse. • Tuesday : Astronomer Elizabeth Warner explains upcoming sky events of 2016, at the University of Maryland’s Observatory, College Park. 8 p.m. After the talk, enjoy heavenly tours through telescopes. www.astro.umd.edu/openhouse.
●Friday: “Einstein, Time and Light,” a lecture by physicist and Nobel laureate William D. Phillips explains how Albert Einstein’s thinking shapes the key scientific and technological wonders of contemporary life. Hosted by the Washington Philosophical Society, at the John Wesley Powell Auditorium, adjacent to the Cosmos Club, 2170 Florida Ave. NW. 8 p.m. www.philsoc.org. ●Friday: “Einstein, Time and Light,” a lecture by physicist and Nobel laureate William D. Phillips, explains how Albert Einstein’s thinking shapes the key scientific and technological wonders of contemporary life. Hosted by the Washington Philosophical Society, at the John Wesley Powell Auditorium, adjacent to the Cosmos Club, 2170 Florida Ave. NW. 8 p.m. philsoc.org.
●Saturday: Caroline and William Herschel — two of astronomy’s 18th-century superstars — come back to life at the regular meeting of the National Capital Astronomers. Jennifer Horowitz plays Caroline and Dean Howarth plays William. The astronomers meet at the University of Maryland Observatory, College Park. 7:30 p.m. capitalastronomers.org. ●Saturday: Caroline and William Herschel — two of astronomy’s 18th-century superstars — come back to life at the regular meeting of the National Capital Astronomers. Jennifer Horowitz plays Caroline and Dean Howarth plays William. The astronomers meet at the University of Maryland Observatory, College Park. 7:30 p.m. capitalastronomers.org.
●Jan. 10: The Northern Virginia Astronomy Club features a telescopic show and tell at its regular meeting, 163 Research Hall, George Mason University. 7 p.m. novac.com. ●Jan. 10: The Northern Virginia Astronomy Club features a telescopic show and tell at its regular meeting, 163 Research Hall, George Mason University. 7 p.m. novac.com.
●Jan. 20: “Exploring Alien Atmospheres,” a lecture by Hannah Wakeford, a NASA postdoctoral fellow who studies exoplanets, at the University of Maryland’s Observatory, College Park. 8 p.m. Afterward, look toward the heavens through telescopes, weather permitting. www.astro.umd.edu/openhouse. ●Jan. 20: “Exploring Alien Atmospheres,” a lecture by Hannah Wakeford, a NASA postdoctoral fellow who studies exoplanets, at the University of Maryland’s Observatory, College Park. 8 p.m. Afterward, look toward the heavens through telescopes, weather permitting. www.astro.umd.edu/openhouse.
●Jan. 21: “A Tale of Two Planets: What Earth and Mars Are Teaching Us About the Evolution of Habitable Worlds,” a lecture by Pamela Conrad, of the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. At the Carnegie Institution for Science, 1530 P St. NW. 6:45 p.m. Registration required. carnegiescience.edu. ●Jan. 21: “A Tale of Two Planets: What Earth and Mars Are Teaching Us About the Evolution of Habitable Worlds,” a lecture by Pamela Conrad of the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. At the Carnegie Institution for Science, 1530 P St. NW. 6:45 p.m. Registration required. carnegiescience.edu.
● Jan. 30: “Exploring Venus, Earth’s Planetary Twin,” Jennifer Whitten, postdoctoral fellow at the Smithsonian’s Center for Earth and Planetary Studies, reveals geological secrets of our toasty, neighboring planet. 5:15 p.m. Albert Einstein Planetarium, Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, Sixth Street and Independence Avenue SW. airandspace.si.edu. ● Jan. 30: “Exploring Venus, Earth’s Planetary Twin,” Jennifer Whitten, postdoctoral fellow at the Smithsonian’s Center for Earth and Planetary Studies, reveals geological secrets of our toasty, neighboring planet. 5:15 p.m. Albert Einstein Planetarium, Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, Sixth Street and Independence Avenue SW. airandspace.si.edu.
●Jan. 30: “How Stars Are Born,” a presentation at 100 Science North Building, Montgomery College, Takoma Park. 7 p.m. (The college’s planetarium is being reconfigured.) ●Jan. 30: “How Stars Are Born,” a presentation at 100 Science North Building, Montgomery College, Takoma Park. 7 p.m. (The college’s planetarium is being reconfigured.)
Blaine Friedlander can be reached at PostSkyWatch@yahoo.com. Friedlander can be reached at PostSkyWatch@yahoo.com.