Winter is the perfect time of year to watch the night skies in New Mexico. The nights are longer, the skies appear clearer, and this is also the time of year when multiple meteor showers shoot across the sky.
In early to mid-December, we see the Geminid meteor shower create an incredible light show. And in January? We get treated to yet another beautiful meteor shower, this time the Quadrantid.
NASA/MSFC/Meteoroid Environments Office/Danielle Moser and Bill Cooke/Flickr
The Quadrantid meteor shower runs between December 12 and January 12 but will reach its peak on January 4, 2020. This is when you’ll be able to spot the highest number of meteors flying across the sky, at a rate of about 109 per hour!
Luis Argerich/Flickr
New Mexicans hoping to see the sky light up with meteors will need to stay up late. According to the website In The Sky, the shower will peak here around 2 a.m. and continue on just before sunrise on January 4.
Mike Lewinski/Flickr
Lucky us, the lunar cycle won’t interfere with our viewing opportunities. The moon will set before the meteor shower begins, so we’ll have a wonderfully dark sky that evening.
theilr/Flickr
You’ll be able to see the meteor shower from anywhere in the state that night but if you’re hoping to increase the number of meteors you’ll see, be sure to visit one of the state’s International Dark Sky places, such as Capulin Volcano National Monument.
NWhitten1776/Wikimedia Commons
Where do you plan to watch the Quadrantid meteor shower in 2020? We would love to hear your experience and see any photos you may have from that evening!
Mike Lewinski/Flickr Feel free to share your photos here, on our Facebook page, or even via Instagram. If you’re lucky, we may even share your photo!
Prefer day over night? You’ll want to check out the wonderfully peaceful Dwan Light Sanctuary in Las Vegas, New Mexico. Read more in There’s A Temple Of Light In New Mexico That Will Leave You In Awe And Wonder.
NASA/MSFC/Meteoroid Environments Office/Danielle Moser and Bill Cooke/Flickr
Luis Argerich/Flickr
Mike Lewinski/Flickr
theilr/Flickr
NWhitten1776/Wikimedia Commons
Feel free to share your photos here, on our Facebook page, or even via Instagram. If you’re lucky, we may even share your photo!
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