Quadrantids
Also called: January meteors
A strong but brief shower in early January, with a narrow peak of only a few hours, best seen after midnight from the northern states.
- Type
- Meteor Showers
- Best season
- Winter
- Gear
- Naked eye
- When to look
- Peak around January 3–4; active in the first days of January
- Peak rate
- Roughly 80–120 meteors an hour at the best moment under ideal conditions, for just a few hours
- Source
- Asteroid 2003 EH1, probably a burned-out comet
- Radiant
- Near Boötes, in the northern sky
- Best for
- Northern observers, after midnight
What you will see
- Fast, bright meteors, often with a few fireballs.
- A very short peak: rates rise and fall within hours, so timing matters.
- Cold, clear winter skies when the shower is visible.
How to watch
- Get away from city lights to a dark site with a wide view of the sky, and lie back in a reclining chair or on a pad.
- Let your eyes adapt to the dark for 20 to 30 minutes and keep white light and phone screens off.
- Look at the whole sky rather than staring at one spot, since meteors can appear anywhere.
- Check the peak time for your year, since the narrow peak can fall in daylight where you are.
- Dress in warm layers, since early January nights are cold, and bring a hot drink.
Constellations to know
Field notes
The Quadrantids can rival the best showers of the year, but only for a short time. The peak is so narrow that cloud or moonlight at the wrong hour can ruin it.
The shower is named for Quadrans Muralis, an old constellation that is now part of Boötes.
Related guides
Dates and times repeat from year to year but shift slightly, and the Moon's phase and the planets' positions are different every year. Check a current source such as NASA, the American Meteor Society, or a stargazing app before you plan a night out, and check the weather forecast for clear skies.