By MOOK Scenic Spots Family / Compiled and Reported
In 2019, the night sky offers a surprise right from the start. The Central Weather Bureau has identified the Quadrantids, one of the year’s finest meteor showers, as peaking on January 4. With an expected rate of up to 120 meteors per hour and favorable viewing conditions, it’s the most spectacular meteor shower of the year. Additionally, around 8:00 AM on January 6, there will be a partial solar eclipse.
The Quadrantids meteor shower on January 4 is a five-star celestial event.
The best viewing window is after 6:00 AM on the 4th (when the rate reaches 110 meteors per hour) until dawn. If the weather is clear, head to open areas away from light pollution for a chance to witness this breathtaking display. For those in Taiwan, the early morning hours of January 4 offer the highest likelihood of seeing a greater number of meteors.
Clear and dark skies free of light pollution will reveal a vivid and magnificent meteor shower. (Image / Central Weather Bureau)
This year will see a total of three solar eclipses and two lunar eclipses: the partial solar eclipse on January 6, the total solar eclipse on July 3, and the annular solar eclipse on December 26; the two lunar eclipses are the total lunar eclipse on January 21 and the partial lunar eclipse on July 17. However, for the January 6 partial solar eclipse, Taiwan is at the very edge of the eclipse path, so only areas north of Chiayi will catch a glimpse of the minor partial eclipse, with Keelung experiencing the greatest obscuration at 1.6%.
If stargazing crowds become too large, flexible traffic controls will be implemented in the Yangmingshan area based on actual weather and traffic conditions. (Image / Taipei Astronomical Museum)
In case of excessive stargazing crowds, to prevent traffic congestion in the Yangmingshan area, flexible traffic controls will be applied to Yangde Boulevard depending on real-time weather and traffic situations. Vehicles may be directed to turn back or rerouted to alternative roads (such as Xingyi Road, Quanyuan Road, Yangjin Highway, etc.). At the same time, bus service frequency to Yangmingshan will be increased as needed. Those taking the bus up the mountain should pay attention to the first and last departure times.
Four meteor showers coincide – Top 10 stargazing spots across Taiwan recommended
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