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Sky watchers in Moscow to enjoy Quadrantid meteor shower, total lunar eclipse in January

Sky watchers in Moscow will be able to enjoy two spectacular celestial phenomena - the Quadrantid meteor shower peaking overnight to January 4 and a total lunar eclipse on January 21

© Yuri Smityuk/TASS

MOSCOW, December 28. /TASS/. Sky watchers in Moscow will be able to enjoy two spectacular celestial phenomena - the Quadrantid meteor shower peaking overnight to January 4 and a total lunar eclipse on January 21, the Moscow city mayor's office said on its website on Friday.

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Biggest meteor shower of the year

The Quadrantid meteor shower, to peak on January 3 to 4, with up to 120 fireballs seen per hour, takes its name from the constellation of Quadrans Muralis, which however was crossed out from the list of constellations compiled by the International Astronomical Union in 1922. But the meteor shower retained its name. The Quadrantids are associated with asteroid 2003EH orbiting around the Sun in 5.5 years. No special equipment is needed to watch the meteor shower, only a clear sky.

"Each new year begins with a fireworks of the Quadrantid meteor shower beginning on December 28 and ending on January 12. This year, it will reach its peak overnight to January 4. It is a spectacular show, with bright fireballs lighting up the night sky, making a sky watcher think about falling stars," the mayor’s office said.

Apart from that, a total lunar eclipse will occur on January 21. It can be observed from 06:34 a.m. to 09:51 a.m. Moscow time, with the maximum eclipse happening at 08:12 a.m. Moscow time. Moon watchers may need binoculars or telescopes.

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