Why Is It Called the Quadrantids?
Like other showers, it’s named for the constellation located near the radiant (or origin) point for the meteors. In this case, it’s the Quadrans Muralis, a constellation that’s no longer recognized by astronomers and is now known as Bootes (the meteor shower is alternately known as the Bootids).
So What’s Causing All These Meteors?
As any astronomer will tell you, showers are caused by our planet passing through dust, rock, and ice left behind by comets. And when this stellar matter hits the Earth’s atmosphere and burns up, it causes shooting stars. During January, our orbit crosses paths with the detritus of the extinct comet 2003 EH1, which was discovered by Arizona astronomers in 2003.
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