Amateur photographer Roberto Porto snapped this photo of a Quadrantid meteor streaking over the volcanic island ofTenerife in Spain's Canary Islands on Jan. 4, 2012 during the meteor shower's peak.
Astrophotographer Jonathan Simons took this photograph of a Quadrantid meteor in Hudson, NY, on Jan. 4, 2012, at 4:30 am [local time].
A Quadrantid meteor is seen streaking across a cloud-spattered sky with shadowy rocks in the foreground in this dazzling photo by astrophotographer Roberto Porto taken on Jan. 4, 2012 on Tenerife Island in Spain's Canary Islands during the meteor shower's peak.
This long-exposure photo by Roberto Porto shows the bright arcs of star trails and a bright Quadrantid meteor in the predawn sky over Tenerife in Spain's Canary Islands.
A Quadrantid meteor is seen streaking across a cloud-spattered sky with shadowy rocks in the foreground in this dazzling photo by astrophotographer Roberto Porto taken on Jan. 4, 2012 on Tenerife Island in Spain's Canary Islands during the meteor shower's peak.
A Quadrantid meteor streaks over Mount Teide, the highest mountain in Spain, before dawn on Jan. 4, 2012 on the island of Tenerife in the Canary Islands. Amateur photographer Roberto Porto snapped this amazing photo.
Astrophotographer Kevin DeTrude captured 2 Quandrantid meteors in one photo taken in NH.
Scott Gauer of Danville, PA, produced this image of a Quandrantid Meteor, January 4, 2012
Richard Hay sends this image of a Quadrantid meteor and says: "My wife and I ventured out into the frigid 26-degree Florida night this morning to catch the shower with our own eyes, and [were] rewarded with about 20 or so bright Quadrantids over a 90 minute period."
Brian Emfinger took this photograph on Jan. 2, 2012, in Ozark, Arkansas. He said: "The radiant is very, very close to the Quadrantid but I'm not 100% sure it is indeed a Quadrantid."
Amateur photographer Roberto Porto snapped this photo of a Quadrantid meteor streaking over Guajara mountain on Tenerife in Spain's Canary Islands on Jan. 4, 2012 during the meteor shower's peak.
Brian Emfinger took this photograph on Jan. 2, 2012, in Ozark, Arkansas. He said: "The radiant is very very close to the Quadrantid but Im not 100% sure it is indeed a Quadrantid."
Brian Emfinger took this photograph of a possible Quadrantid meteor on Jan. 2, 2012, in Ozark, Arkansas. He referred to this image as a "cropped star trail stack."
The first major meteor shower of 2012 takes place on the night of Tuesday, Jan. 3 and the morning of Wednesday, Jan. 4. It peaks at 2 a.m. EST (0700 GMT) on Jan. 4.
The meteor was recorded at approximately 10:34:16 UTC in an allsky camera at the Marshall Space Flight Center.
The image shows the meteor's path captured by an allsky color camera, also located at the Marshall Center.
Astrophotographer Jeff Berkes took this photo Jan. 4, 2012, and said: "I captured at least a dozen meteors and counted about 100. This year was certainly better than last year. The Zodiac Lights could been seen for a good hour before dawn started as seen on the one side of the photo."
Astrophotographer Jeff Berkes took this photo of the Quadrantid meteor shower on Jan. 4, 2012.
Astrophotographer Jack Fusco caught the Quadrantid meteor shower in Maurice River, NJ, at the East Point Lighthouse, January 2012. A meteor is visible over the right side of the lighthouse.
Astrophotographer Jack Fusco caught the Quadrantid meteor shower in Maurice River, NJ, at the East Point Lighthouse, January 2012. He says this image consists of "a total of 509 frames stacked to create star trails showing the meteors through the trails. The trails were taken from 3 am until just after 6 am which accounts for the early twilight light in the right side of the frame."
