Faint Quadrantid

With the peak actually coming before midnight in the Midwest on Monday, January 3, 2011, viewing of the Quadrantid meteor shower from Cedar Rapids, Iowa was very difficult as skies were mostly cloudy in the early evening hours. This viewing opportunity came before dawn the next morning as skies cleared. This 30-second exposure at f/3.5 with an ISO of 400 was captured around 5:25 AM, January 4. It looks northeast and includes a faint meteor streak located in the constellation Draco at top center. At right center is the constellation Hercules. The bright star Vega in the constellation Lyra is seen partially obscured by the tree branches at center lower. A 12 degree F air temperature with windy conditions made it feel colder than the -3 degree F morning I had on my Geminids photo vigil on December 14.