Muscat – Astronomy enthusiasts in Oman are in for a treat as the first meteor shower of 2023 – also said to be one of the most intense ones this year – began its spectacular show in the night sky.

The meteor shower is expected to be visible in naked eyes in Oman till Thursday, said a senior member of the observatory unit of the Oman Astronomical Society.

“People in Oman can enjoy the Quadrantids meteor shower without the need of a telescope. It is expected to be among the strongest and most consistent ones, with intensity reaching a maximum of 110 meteors per hour on a clear night. The shower will be at its peak on the night of January 3-4,” Abdulwahab al Busaidi told Muscat Daily.

The Quadrantids are usually active between the end of December and the second week of January, with the peak hitting around January 3-4.

“The spectacle will be visible from anywhere in the sultanate; but I always recommend everyone to watch such astronomical feats from dark places, far away from city lights,” Busaidi suggested, pointing out that the light pollution takes away the beauty of celestial events.

“All you need is a location away from lights and you should be able to spot the shower. However, there will also be the Moon on the said dates, which will cause some distraction and make it tough to see in the later half of the night.”

Explaining more about meteors, he said that they are pieces of debris that enter our planet’s atmosphere at speeds up to 70km per second; vaporising in the process and causing streaks of light we call meteors.

“The Quadrantids is known for its sharp peak of a few hours, and the meteors appear to radiate from the constellation Boötes,” Busaidi informed.