How to watch the Quadrantids meteor shower: the first celestial show of 2025

Peak activity is expected on Friday, and it's a great opportunity to see bright meteors or even fireballs in the night sky. NASA predicts that up to 120 meteors per hour can be seen during the peak.

What are Quadrantids?
Usually meteor streams are named after the constellations they seem to come from. But the Quadrantids are named after a constellation that no longer exists. The source of this rain is debris from asteroid 2003 EH1. As Earth passes through this debris, it enters the atmosphere, heats up from friction with the air and burns up, leaving behind a flash of light and sometimes a trail of fire, similar to a "shooting star".

When and where to watch?
The Quadrantids peak on a night with the Moon's thin waning sickle, just 11% of the lunar surface, providing excellent observing conditions. The best time to observe is in the early hours before dawn, when the sky is dark and the Moon is low over the horizon. The key is to choose a location away from city lights and artificial light.

How do I prepare for viewing?

• Find a dark location. Avoid city lights so they don't interfere with the viewing.
• Best time. Meteors are best observed in the pre-dawn hours when the sky is darkest.
• Keep an eye on the weather. Cloud cover will interfere with viewing, so choose a clear night.
• Look up. Don't get distracted by your phone or look down - your eyes will get used to the darkness faster and spot meteors better.
• Patience. Sometimes you have to wait a few minutes before you start seeing shooting stars.

What else is there to wait for?
Quadrantids will be visible until 16 January. This is a great start to the year for astronomy enthusiasts. If you enjoy watching the Quadrantids, there's another meteor shower ahead, the Lyrids, which will peak in mid-April.

Plan your observation, find a convenient location, watch the weather forecasts and enjoy the beauty of the night sky!