Meteor 2012

1 January 2012 11:53 pm

Sri Lankans will get the opportunity of viewing the first meteor shower in the New Year on Tuesday January 3 the Sri Lanka Astronomical Association said yesterday.
 
Senior Member of the Association Dr. Kawan Ratnatunga told the Daily Mirror that the shower would be visible shortly after midnight on Tuesday January 3 and early Wednesday morning.
 
This would be visible in the ‘great bear’ he said. The meteor shower which is named Quadrantids would be at its peak time would be seen in the wee hours on January 4 according to reports published by the National Aeronautic and Space Administration (NASA).
 
Quadrantids originate from an asteroid called 2003EHI and it is believed that these are pieces of a comet which had broken apart several centauries ago. (Yohan Perera)