MikeLigalig.com

The fireworks that lit up the sky on New Year's Eve have already expired, but Pinoys may still get to see a spectacle in the nighttime sky during the first week of the year.

With the weather permitting, state astronomers said "falling stars" may be seen from the Philippines from the start of the year until Jan. 7.

"The annual Quadrantid meteor shower will be active from January 1 to January 7," Pagasa administrator Nathaniel Servando said.
Related story: 'Daytime comet' to arrive this year
It peaks Jan. 3 and 4, with falling stars seen at the rate of at least 40 meteors per hour.

"Meteors from the Quadrantid meteor shower hit the Earth’s atmosphere at the rate of about 40 kilometers per second," Servando said.

This, as the Pagasa chief noted that the meteors are said to be particles from debris ejected by the near-Earth asteroid 2003 EH1.

NASA meanwhile said that the EH1 asteroid may have come from a piece of comet that broke up several hundred years ago.

Related story: Comet may outshine the moon
Meteor shower viewing, however, may be interrupted by the waning gibbous Moon on Jan. 3, Servando said.

Aside from the Quadrantid meteor shower, Pagasa has highlighted other treats for Pinoy stargazers this January.

These include the rise of the "famous equilateral triangle after sunset."

The Triangle is composed of Betelgeuse, the prominent star of the famous constellation Orion (The Mighty Hunter); Sirius, the brightest star in the sky of the constellation Canis Major (the Big Dog); and Procyon, the brightest star of the constellation Canis Minor (the Little Dog).


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makita ra gihapon na neth... so, pag andam nalang daghan wish.. hehe

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same pud diri sa CEBU.... mas makita cguro sa BoHoL..

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cge lang neth naa paman lain moabot...

'Daytime comet' to arrive in 2013

Skygazers are in for a treat when Comet Ison passes by the Earth later this year: it's expected to be so bright that it will outshine the moon and be visible even in broad daylight.

Filipino astronomer Frederic Gabriana calculated that Comet Ison will be seen in the Philippines by November.

Space.com was cited in an earlier report as saying that it might even be seen during the daytime on Nov. 28, 2013 —weather permitting, of course.

Related story: Approaching comet may outshine the moon

Officially known as Comet C/2012 S1, Ison was first discovered in September, 2012, by Russian astronomers Vitali Nevski and Artyom Novichonok at the International Scientific Optical Network (or "ISON," hence the name) near Kislovodsk.

The comet was first seen near the constellations of Gemini and Cancer.

"Comet Ison could draw millions out into the dark to witness what could be the brightest comet seen in many generations – brighter even than the full Moon," astronomer David Whitehouse said in an article on the UK's The Independent.

'Galactic litter'

Comets are icy rocks within the solar system that display a fuzzy atmosphere called a "coma," and a visible tail, especially when it comes closer to the Sun.

Comets are believed to be made up of ammonia, carbon dioxide, methane, and water.

Also read: Never-Before-Seen Stage of Planet Birth Revealed

Most of the comets are thought to be residents of Oort Cloud and Kuiper Belt, some 5,000 to 100,000 astronomical units (AU) away from the Earth (one AU = 150 million km).

"Occasionally, giant molecular clouds, stars passing nearby, or tidal interactions with the Milky Way's disc disturb the orbits of some of these bodies in the outer region of the Oort Cloud, causing the object to fall into the inner solar system as a so-called long-period comet," NASA said.

Comet Ison for one, is believed to be a castaway from Oort Cloud.

2013: A year of comets

But Ison seems not to be the only comet visiting the Earthlings this year.

"Another comet, called Comet 2011 L4 (PanSTARRS), was discovered last year and in March and April it could also be a magnificent object in the evening sky," Whitehouse wrote.

In other news: Pinoys urged to plan 2013 holidays ahead

Comet 2011 L4, discovered in the constellation Libra on June 2011, may not shine as bright as Ison but will still be visible to the naked eye.

"The comet is expected to be brightest in February or March 2013, when it makes its closest approach to the sun. At that time, the comet is expected to be visible low in the western sky after sunset, but the bright twilight sky may make it difficult to view," University of Hawaii Institute of Astronomy said in a press release.

"2013 could be the year of the great comets," Whitehouse added.

One-time deal?

Whitehouse also said that Comet Ison "may never return."

"Its tail points outward now as the solar wind is at its back, and it fades and the comet falls quiet once more, this time forever," the astronomer concluded. — TJD, GMA News


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yap... i wish to wish the wish you wish to wish...

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hir shi is:

rayding wid da komit walis


wid hir kat

and

kingsa gid kaha ni haw?






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