Quadrantids from Belgium
In
Belgium we missed both 2002 Ursid
and Geminid peak nights due to bad
and severe weather that lasted several weeks (frontal systems from the
Atlantic Ocean). Finally the cold and freezing air from the Scandinavia High
Pressure system reached us again ; but one day to late for us…During the night
from 3-4/01 it was impossible to see some peak activity from the “Quads” above
Belgium. In the beginning of that night
there were some holes ; but
because of the high humidity degree (it rained a lot on jan.3th. ) all these
were very quickly filled up with SC sheets and fog. There was a large hole in
the cloud layer above the Netherlands ; thanks to this ; DMS members were able to do some visual
observations for a couple of hours. They witnessed a nice Quadrantid return ;
but peak activity was already in decline.
4-5/01/03 was complete clear in Western Belgium and some parts of the Netherlands. I was able to have a late Quadrantid watch for 8 cold hours. Activity was already very low ; some earth grazers during the first hours. The last hours before dawn hourly rates climbed to “4” Quads. No bright Quadrantids were seen ; typical the “background activity”.
Last great Quadrantid return in Belgium is already 8 years ago...1995 !