PAGASA: Partial solar eclipse not visible in PHL, meteor shower peaks

Stargazers in January will not be lucky enough to see a partial solar eclipse on Tuesday, although they will still be in for a treat this week with the yearly Quadrantid meteor shower. The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said the Quadrantid meteor shower started Saturday but will peak Jan. 3 and 4. "[The meteor shower] will be active from January 1 to January 7. The observation of its peak activity on January 3-4 in which meteors or 'falling stars' can be seen at the rate of at least 40 meteors per hour," PAGASA officer-in-charge Graciano Yumul Jr. said in PAGASA's astronomical diary for January, posted on the agency's website Sunday afternoon. Yumul added the meteor shower will appear to radiate from the constellation of Bootes. He noted the Quadrantid meteor shower hits the Earth’s atmosphere at the rate of about 40 kilometers per second. "The incinerated dust are said to be particles apparently derived from the debris ejected by the near-Earth asteroid 2003 EH," he said. Partial solar eclipse While there will be a partial solar eclipse on Tuesday, PAGASA said it will not be visible in the Philippines. PAGASA said the eclipse will begin at 2:40 p.m. Philippine time and ends when the penumbra leaves Earth at 7 p.m. "It will be visible from much of Europe, North Africa and central Asia," PAGASA said. Meanwhile, at around 5:30 a.m. Sunday, Mercury, Venus and Saturn were to be found 8, 34 and 68 degrees above the eastern horizon, and will be glowing at magnitudes -0.1, -4.4 & +1.8, respectively. Venus and Saturn will remain visible in the morning sky, while Mercury will disappear from view on the last week of the month, PAGASA said. Jupiter, Uranus and Neptune will be visible for observation at the night sky throughout the month. "Jupiter will be easily located through its brightness as the sky darkens, while Uranus and Neptune will need a star map and a binocular or a modest-sized telescope for proper viewing," PAGASA said. Mars, the Red Planet, will be difficult to observe due to its proximity to the Sun during the month. — LBG, GMANews.TV