A few days after you finish watching the ball drop, those of you in eastern North America can watch the sky fall … in a qualified sense, of course. The Quadrantids meteor shower will be active from Dec. 26 to Jan. 16, with peak visibility for the northeastern part of North America on Jan. 4 at 3 a.m. CST. This year, the moon will be 47-percent illuminated during the shower’s peak hours.
According to NASA, the Quadrantids meteor shower occurs when Earth passes through the debris left from Asteroid 2003 EH1, which might have been an extinct comet. Some researchers believe it to be the remains of comet C/1490 Y1, which was last mentioned in Chinese historic records in 1490. Dust particles from the asteroid debris collide with Earth’s atmosphere where they crumble, creating the fiery streaks we see from the comfort of our lawn blankets.
While most meteor showers originate from the Earth passing through debris from comets, the Quadrantids is one of two meteor showers caused by passing through asteroid debris. Asteroid 2003 EH1 was discovered in March 2003 by the Lowell Observatory Near-Earth Object Search. It has a small diameter of just two miles.
The radiant – or, point in the sky where the shower appears to originate – is an extinct constellation once called the Quadrans Muralis, located between the Bootes and Draco constellations. It is now considered part of the Bootes constellation. The name Quadrans comes from the early astronomical tool, the quadrant. The first recorded Quadrantids meteor shower happened in 1825.
The Quadrantids shower happens every year in early January, but it’s quick! While most meteor showers have a peak of roughly two days, the Quadrantids peak window is just a handful of hours long. This is because the Earth crosses the stream of asteroid debris at a perpendicular angle, and the stream itself is relatively thin, making the journey a short one. During this peak window, NASA claims 60 to 200 meteors can be seen per hour, moving at up to 25.5 miles per second. This year, the American Meteor Society places the average number of meteors seen during dark skies about 25 shooting stars per hour during peak times, but these will include some vibrant fireballs.
Viewing Tips
Weather permitting, if you feel up to braving the predawn hours to witness this annual display in the sky, here are a few tips to help create the best viewing experience:
- Embrace the dark. If you’re in a densely populated area where there is likely to be heavy light pollution, see if you can’t find a more remote viewing locale. Give your eyes time to adjust to the dark – roughly 30 minutes should be fine. If you need to read a sky map or see other items during peak hours, using a red flashlight can help preserve your night vision. Avoid checking your phone.
- Cozy up. Dress warmly and bring plenty of blankets and your favorite hot drink to keep you warm (see sidebar). If lying down at 3 or 4 a.m. is going to knock you out (It would me!), make sure to bring your best caffeinated tea or coffee.
- Follow the Big Dipper. The easiest way to find the Bootes constellation is to follow the handle of the Big Dipper to the north until you find the red star Arcturus, which is part of Bootes.
- Ditch the tools. Binoculars and telescopes could actually make it harder to see many meteors as they are falling.
- Carpe diem. The next meteor shower in 2025, the Lyrids, will not be visible until April, so if you are on the fence about getting out to see the Quadrantids, consider if you want to wait until spring for your next opportunity.
This article is inspired by an edition of GeoLifestyle, written by Sharon Lyon.