Experience the Spectacular Surge: A Guide to Witnessing the Thrilling Quadrantid Meteor Shower

Celebrate the arrival of 2025 by witnessing the Quadrantids, which astronomers regard as one of the premier meteor showers of the year. The Quadrantids can yield between 60 to 200 meteors per hour under optimal conditions, according to NASA, but the highlight of this celestial display is brief, lasting just about six hours—so you’ll need to pick a single night to enjoy the mesmerizing spectacle.

This year, the Quadrantids will take place from December 26, 2024, to January 16, 2025, according to the American Meteor Society. However, the prime time for observing them in the United States will occur in the late evening of January 2 and into the early morning of January 3. Visibility is best from the Northern Hemisphere, although cloudy weather often experienced in early January can make sighting them a challenge.

Moonlight should not disrupt the observation of the Quadrantids this year, as Earth’s satellite will be in its waxing crescent phase and merely 11 percent illuminated, per the American Meteor Society. Additionally, the moon is expected to set prior to the Quadrantids achieving peak visibility.

Interested in learning more about the ephemeral Quadrantids? Here’s a brief overview of this abundant yet brief meteor shower.

Origin of the meteors

Meteor showers happen when Earth traverses a trail of space debris while orbiting the sun. This cosmic material—which consists of fragments of rock and dust—incinerates upon entering Earth’s atmosphere, creating bright streaks of light in the night sky that can be seen from Earth’s surface.

Most meteor showers result from the remnants left by comets. Nonetheless, a few—including the Quadrantids and, likely, the December Geminids—stem from rocks and dust associated with asteroids. In the case of the Quadrantids, the responsible asteroid is named 2003 EH1.

Asteroid 2003 EH1, which completes an orbit around the sun every 5.52 years, was first detected by astronomers from the Lowell Observatory Near-Earth Object Search project in March 2003 as it made its nearest approach to the sun. This asteroid is relatively diminutive, measuring roughly two miles wide—comparable in length to the National Mall in Washington, D.C. While astronomers continue their studies on asteroid 2003 EH1, they speculate it may be a “dormant comet,” according to NASA.

For many years, the Quadrantids were a prominent meteor shower without a known progenitor, leading to debate among astronomers regarding its origin. In 2004, Peter Jenniskens, a Dutch-American astronomer, was the first to suggest that asteroid 2003 EH1 was the source of the annual Quadrantid meteor shower.

Astronomers have been observing the Quadrantids since at least the year 1825. They derive their name from Quadrans Muralis, a “neglected” constellation close to Ursa Major, which is no longer officially recognized by astronomers. Sometimes referred to as the Bootids, the title references the Boötes constellation.

The Quadrantids can travel up to 91,800 miles per hour, which is relatively slow in the context of meteor showers. In contrast, the fastest annual meteor shower, the Leonids, soar at speeds of up to 158,400 miles per hour.

A brief peak

In contrast to other meteor showers that might reach their peak across several nights, the Quadrantids are ephemeral. The cause of this? The debris trail from asteroid 2003 EH1 is narrow, and Earth intersects it at a perpendicular angle, as stated by NASA. These conditions result in a constrained timeframe for rocks and dust to enter Earth’s atmosphere and streak across the firmament.

This year, an exact peak is anticipated around 12:45 p.m. or 2 p.m. Eastern time on January 3, although the actual moment may vary. Therefore, for the optimal viewing experience, which spans approximately three hours on either side of that time, many observers in the U.S. might miss out due to daylight. The shower favors the Pacific region and Hawaii in 2025.

Nevertheless, numerous meteors can still be seen across the states—the night from January 2 to 3 presents favorable viewing conditions, with around 25 meteors per hour likely visible during the days leading up to January 3.

“Although the meteors may be faint, there will be an abundance of them during this shower, and owing to the slender crescent moon reflecting minimal sunlight, stargazers beneath dark skies could witness up to a shooting star per minute,” remarks Darren Baskill, an astronomer from the University of Sussex in England, in conversation with Newsweek’s Tom Howarth.

Even though the meteor shower is short-lived, the Quadrantids compensate with the occurrence of fireballs. Resulting from larger debris particles, fireballs are typically brighter and more enduring than average meteors. The American Meteor Society maintains a record of fireball sightings, so if you witness one during the Quadrantids, consider reporting your observation.

Suggestions for observing the Quadrantid

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To witness the Quadrantids, stay awake late on the night of January 2 or rise early before dawn on January 3. Ideally, you should head to a place with minimal light interference—like a national park or a designated dark sky area. If that’s not feasible, find a secluded spot free from trees, tall structures, or any obstructions that might hinder your view of the night sky. If you’re in an urban area, “seek out the largest expanse of sky available, or ascend to a higher vantage point above the rooftops,” advises the Natural History Museum in London.

“A window in a loft, a roof terrace, the windows of higher-floor apartments, or a nearby park (especially on the outskirts of a city) can serve as ideal observation points,” according to the museum.

Bring along a cushion and a blanket so you can lie back comfortably on the ground, or a reclining chair. Refrain from gazing at any artificial lights for 20 to 30 minutes, including your mobile device, allowing your eyes to thoroughly adapt to the darkness. No special equipment is necessary to observe the Quadrantids, but wearing a few extra layers may help against the chill of January.

While the Quadrantids seem to come from near the Big Dipper, specialists recommend against directly fixating on this area known as the radiant. Instead, allow your gaze to wander across the entire night sky—and consider bringing a companion to share the excitement of spotting a shooting star or fireball.

“Attempt to let your vision ‘defocus’ rather than intensely staring at one particular area, thus remaining aware of activity throughout as much of the sky as possible,” advises the Society for Popular Astronomy. “Then stay in place—resist the urge to change your position, even if you don’t observe much initially. The chances of seeing meteors are consistent across the entire sky.”