Photo of the Week for February 5, 2016
The Quadrantids are arguably the most under-rated meteor shower of the year. No doubt that’s because it peaks in early January when weather conditions are rarely conducive to sky watching. And yet, this fine display can produce as many as 120 meteors per hour under ideal conditions. For those fortunate enough to enjoy clear skies and hearty enough to brave the elements, the Quadrantids can be a rewarding show.
Ottawa, Ontario, imager Pierre Martin caught this brilliant Quad on the morning of January 4 while visiting a friend’s cottage at Otter Lake, Quebec. “I ventured into the –24°C cold and saw quite a few bright meteors, including this fabulous –4-magnitude fireball,” he reports. Pierre used a Canon EOS 5D DSLR camera fitted with a 35mm Sigma Art lens set to f/2.2 for this 15-second exposure at ISO 1600.
