- Zenithal Hourly Rate: 120
- Peak Date: January 3
- Source: Asteroid 2003 EH1
- Speed: 25 miles (40km) per second
- 2025 Rating: ★★★★★
Just 3 days into the new year is the first astronomical event. The Quadrantids are one of those meteor showers that’s either really good or really bad. It has the potential to be incredible, but the circumstances have to be just right. The peak is brief and always favors a particular side of the planet. Cold temperatures and clouds are common this time of year. If you’re new to meteor observing then this may not be the best one to start with. There is a reason that pictures and written accounts of this annual event are hard to find. But if you are up for the challenge and willing to take a chance, you may be rewarded with a great show.
Source
Bear Butte, South Dakota, in 2020
Quadrantid meteors are thought to originate from debris left by an asteroid named 2003 EH1. This small chunk of rock is only 2 miles wide and has an orbital period of 5.52 years. Though the meteor shower has been observed since the 1820’s, it wasn’t until 2003 that the likely source was discovered. Some research has suggested that they are both related to an ancient comet called C/1490 Y1. Chinese records tell of a violent meteor shower occurring in the year 1490.
Bright fireball over New Mexico in 2020 – Mike Lewinski
Numbers and Speed
Under perfect circumstances, 120 meteors per hour may be seen. But there are a few reasons those numbers may not be realized. Other meteor showers have a much broader park lasting days or weeks. But the Quadrantids peak is very brief lasting only 6 hours. They may start flying anytime from December 26 – January 16. But outside of the 6 hour window numbers will be very sparse. Your success depends on which side of the globe is dark during the peak. This timing is not always easy to predict. Meteors will fall at a velocity of 25 miles per second, which is a medium speed. Bright fireballs are not uncommon, but they will rarely leave persistent trains.
Radiant
Death Valley National Park in 2012- Jeff Sullivan
If you look at a list of the 88 official constellations, you won’t find one with the name Quadrant. When this meteor shower was discovered in 1825, it was named after a constellation at the time ‘Quadrans Muralis.’ This constellation did not make the cut when the IAU made a standard list in 1930. But the meteor shower retained the name. Nowadays the radiant is found somewhere between the constellations Bootes, Ursa Minor, Ursa Major, and Hercules. If that sounds confusing, it doesn’t actually matter if you can find the radiant point, because meteors may appear anywhere in the sky. Unlike sporadic meteors, the trails will always trace back to the radiant. This radiant point stays up all night long in northerly latitudes, starting in the northwest sky and rotating to the northeast before dawn. Unfortunately for the southern hemisphere, the radiant remains below the horizon, so few if any meteors will be seen there.
Source: Stellarium
This Year
Above a Wyoming cabin in 2017
2025 will be an excellent year for Quadrantids. Moonlight is not an issue, with the slim crescent setting around 8PM on the 2nd and 9PM on the 3rd. According to the American Meteor Society, the peak is expected at 17:45 UT January 3. This would tend to favor East Asia, where it will be early morning. But these forecasts are not always accurate. So is it better to look on the 3rd or on the 4th? Your guess is as good as mine. Check a time zone calculator. In Pacific Time for example, a 9:45AM peak would slightly favor the morning of the 3rd. But if you want to double your chances then try watching both nights.
Viewing Tips
Spain in 2023 – Héctor Castejón
- Get to the darkest skies you can. Light pollution will drown out all but the brightest of meteors. Use the light pollution map or dark site list to find a viewing spot near you.
- Let your eyes adjust to the darkness. The longer you look the more stars and fainter meteors you’ll see. Any bright lights or phone screens will hinder your view. A dim red flashlight or headlamp is best for getting around without bumping into anything.
- Turn off your headlights as soon as you park your car. Be considerate if other stargazers are around so you don’t ruin their view.
- A beach chair or camping chair that reclines will be the most comfortable. Otherwise laying flat on the ground on a blanket is fine. You want to take in as much sky as possible so you don’t miss anything.
- Bring warm clothes. You start to feel cold fast when you’re not moving.
- Hot chocolate or coffee is helpful for staying awake.
- Be patient. Meteors are often spaced unevenly. Sometimes 10 minutes may pass without seeing any and then suddenly there are 10 in a single minute.
- Head over to How to Photograph a Meteor Shower for more photography tips
Alabama in 2012 – NASA