A starry sky lit up by the Quadrantid meteor shower was visible in China’s Bayingolin Mongol Autonomous Prefecture in 2021.
The annual Quadrantid meteor shower is on track to hit its peak early Friday, marking the first meteor shower spectacle of 2025. The forthcoming celestial show is anticipated to shine brightly without any interference from moonlight, as the crescent moon will have set before the shower reaches its crescendo.
Welcoming the new year with a dazzling display, the annual Quadrantid meteor shower is poised to reach its zenith during the early hours of Friday, just before daybreak. This opportune time offers sky gazers in the Northern Hemisphere the prime opportunity to witness the magic of shooting stars, although the shower has already commenced its celestial dance. While those fortunate enough might catch a glimpse of the spectacle on New Year’s Eve, the celestial performance is expected to continue until January 16.
The Quadrantid meteor shower, caused by debris from the asteroid 2003 EH1, which takes over 5 years to complete an orbit around the sun, is renowned for producing brighter and occasionally colorful fireball meteors due to their origin from larger debris fragments.
During the shower’s peak early Friday, the setting crescent moon ensures that the shooting stars take center stage without being outshone by the moon’s radiance. For optimal viewing, individuals are encouraged to wrap up warmly and seek out a location away from the glare of city lights, offering an unobstructed and clear view of the star-studded sky.
With no specialized equipment required, meteors can be observed with the naked eye under clear and dark conditions. NASA estimates that under ideal circumstances, approximately 120 meteors per hour could be spotted during the shower’s peak.
Meteor showers occur when Earth traverses massive streams of debris from comets or asteroids. Upon entering the planet’s atmosphere, these rock fragments and cosmic dust ignite, streaking across the night sky and creating the mesmerizing display of shooting stars.
In contrast to most meteor showers which peak over two days, the Quadrantids boast a shorter peak lasting around six hours. This is attributed to the relatively sparse cloud of debris and the angle at which Earth intersects it, perpendicular to its orbit, as explained by NASA.
Meteor showers typically derive their names from the apparent point of origin of the shooting stars in the sky. For instance, Perseid meteors seem to emanate from the constellation of Perseus, while Geminid meteors appear to originate from the Gemini constellation.
Conversely, the Quadrantids are named after the now-defunct constellation known as “Quadrans Muralis.” Although this star grouping was omitted by the International Astronomical Union when modern constellations were officially recognized in 1922, the meteor shower retained its original name. Previously situated near the Big Dipper, meteors may appear to radiate from this region of
