Quadrantids Meteors

[Gill]

Today is apparently a good day to view the Quadrantids meteor shower in the Boötes constellation near Virgo (just look for the star Arcturus). It's also the approximate date of the Earth's perihelion.

Gill

 

[dedee]

Earth's perihelion.

Eh?

Oh I see (googled), So why is it so cold? :lol:

edit, I just read that the aphelion is in July when we can expect to be at our hottest. Is that ironic?

Andy

 

[mudman]

Earth's perihelion.

Eh?

Oh I see (googled), So why is it so cold? :lol:

edit, I just read that the aphelion is in July when we can expect to be at our hottest. Is that ironic?

Andy

Not for the Aussies as it's the other way around for them.

Actually distance from the sun due to our orbit doesn't make a lot of difference. The Earth's orbit is much more circular than people realise. The reason it's cold is down to the Earth's axial tilt. In the winter, our hemisphere is tilted away from the Sun causing the energy we receive to be 'spread out' more than in the summer. That's also why the southern hemisphere is currently enjoying its summer.

 

[CHJ]

Hi Gill, here is a site that may be of interest to you if you do not already have a ref:

Astronomy Picture of the Day:
http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/astropix.html

And the Archive of the past pictures:
http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html