Is it a leftover firework? No! It’s a shooting star!
The New Year’s night sky is still ablaze after the late-night festivities welcoming 2025, thanks to the Quadrantid meteor shower that became active on Dec. 28 and lasts through early January.
NASA considers the Quadrantids “one of the best” annual meteor showers. With a two-night peak, they are famous for their bright fireball meteors that whiz across the sky. The spectacular event peaks at the start of January each year.
The Quadrantids are highly regarded due to the quantity they’re capable of producing, shooting a minimum of approximately 60 meteors per hour to a maximum of 200 meteors under perfect conditions. The clearer the night, the better chance for star spotting.
The appearance of the Quadrantids differs from that of other meteor showers because they originate from larger particles of material. According to NASA, “Fireballs are larger explosions of light and color that can persist longer than an average meteor streak.”
The Quadrantids also originate from an asteroid (asteroid 2003 EH1), while most other meteor showers derive from comets. Their radiant, or the point in the sky from which the stars appear to shoot, is an obsolete constellation known as the “Quadrans Muralis.”
Read on for when and how you can spot the Quadrantids, one of the best annual meteor showers!
When does the Quadrantid meteor shower peak?
Quadrantids. Photo: Mike Lewinski/flickr
The Quadrantid meteor shower peaks between Thursday, Jan. 2 and Friday, Jan. 3 this year. They are predicted to be the strongest on Jan. 3 at 12:45 p.m. ET, according to the American Meteor Society.
How to view the Quadrantid meteor shower?
The Quadrantids can be viewed in the sky from anywhere on Earth, though the American Meteor Society says the timing for the meteor shower’s predicted peak “favors” the Pacific area. Fortunately, stargazers will be able to spot the meteors with the naked eye.
However, just like all cosmic events, viewing is dependent upon clear sky conditions. While the moon will be 11% full (a fairly dim display that won’t drown out the stars), viewers have to hope for a cloudless and fog-less night.
Where does the Quadrantid meteor shower appear in the sky?
Meteor shower.
Costfoto/Future Publishing via Getty Images
Stargazers can expect to see an average of 25 meteors under clear and dark conditions. These meteor showers are best viewed in the Northern Hemisphere during the night and predawn hours.
All meteor showers have a radiant, or the point in the sky from where the stars appear to shoot. Typically they derive from their corresponding constellations, though the Quadrantids’ respective star cluster is the now-obsolete “Quadrans Muralis.”
What meteor shower comes after the Quadrantids?
The Quadrantids will be active until Jan. 16 this year. Then, the Lyrids will begin on April 17.
