The Ultimate Guide to Observing the Quadrantids, the Inaugural Meteor Shower of the Year

Subscribe to CNN's Wonder Theory science newsletter for captivating updates on the latest discoveries and advancements in the universe. This January, brace yourself for the Quadrantids, a swift and powerful meteor shower that marks the beginning of the year.

The American Meteor Society predicts that the shower will reach its peak overnight on January 3 and 4. For the best viewing in the Northern Hemisphere, sky-gazers should look late at night on Wednesday through dawn on Thursday.

Meteors are fragments of broken asteroids and comet particles that spread out in dusty trails orbiting the sun. When Earth passes through these trails each year, the dust and rock create vibrant meteor showers as they disintegrate in the atmosphere.

The Quadrantid meteor shower is known for its challenging observation, as it reaches its peak for just six hours. This short duration sets it apart from most other meteor showers, which typically peak over two days. NASA explains that the shower's narrow particle stream causes Earth to swiftly pass through the densest concentration of particles at a perpendicular angle.

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The peak of the showers is expected to occur between 4 a.m. and 10 a.m. ET (9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Coordinated Universal Time), with meteors being visible for several hours before that. According to the American Meteor Society, it is recommended to watch out for meteors from 1 a.m. to 5 a.m. local time for those in North America. The earlier time is more favorable for those on the East Coast, while the later time is better for observers in Hawaii and Alaska. Typically, the Quadrantids are not visible in the Southern Hemisphere due to the showers radiant point not rising high enough in the sky before dawn.

Check Time and Dates site to see what your chances are like to view the event.

What youll see

During the peak, more than 100 visible meteors per hour can be seen. Some fireballs, which are bright bursts of light and color associated with larger particles that linger longer than typical meteor streaks, may even be glimpsed during the meteor shower, according to NASA.

On January 4, 2022, the Quadrantid meteor shower was observed in the night sky above the city of Korla in China's Bayingolin Mongolian Autonomous Prefecture.

Watch the sky in the north-to-northeastern direction. From 2 a.m. local time onwards, stand or sit with the moon behind you and look at the sky for at least an hour, as recommended by the American Meteor Society.

Visibility may be affected by wintry weather in the Northern Hemisphere. The moon will be about 51% full, potentially impacting the visibility of the meteor shower. However, the society suggests attempting to block the moon with a tree or building.

If you reside in a city, you might be interested in driving to a location that is not illuminated by city lights. In an area unaffected by light pollution, meteors may be visible every few minutes from late evening until dawn.

Locate a spacious area with a clear view of the sky. Ensure you have a chair or blanket to comfortably look upward. Allow your eyes to adapt to the darkness for 20 to 30 minutes, without using your phone, to make it easier to spot the meteors.

Unusual Beginnings

The name of the meteor shower may sound strange, as it doesn't seem to be connected to a constellation. This is because the Quadrantids are not named after a recognized constellation, as the original one no longer exists.

Quadrans Muralis, a constellation first observed in 1795 between Boötes and Draco, has been deemed obsolete and no longer included in the International Astronomical Union's list of modern constellations. According to EarthSky, this constellation is no longer used as a landmark for celestial navigation. The Quadrantids, similar to the Geminid meteor shower, originate from a mysterious asteroid or "rock comet" rather than an icy comet, making them unusual. This specific asteroid, known as 2003 EH1, takes 5.52 years to orbit the sun and measures 2 miles (3.2 kilometers) across.

On October 16, 2021, NASA's Lucy spacecraft was launched atop a United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket from Pad-41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Cape Canaveral, Florida. The mission aims to study the Trojan asteroids in the outer solar system. (REUTERS/Thom Baur)

Thom Baur/Reuters

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Astronomers believe that the Quadrantid meteor shower may be influenced by a second object, Comet 96P/Machholz, which orbits the sun every 5.3 years. It is believed that a larger comet was captured by the sun's gravity around 2000 BC and eventually broke apart between the years 100 and 950, leaving behind a trail of meteors. This event resulted in the creation of the Machholz Complex, which includes the parent bodies of the Quadrantid meteor shower, Comet 96P/Machholz and asteroid 2003 EH1, as well as two other comet groups and eight other meteor showers, according to EarthSky.

Meteor showers of 2024

After the Quadrantids, there is a bit of a lull in meteor shower activity, and the next one wont occur until April.

Lyrids: April 21-22

Eta Aquariids: May 4-5

Southern delta Aquariids: July 29-30

Alpha Capricornids: July 30-31

Perseids: August 11-12

Draconids: October 7-8

Orionids: October 20-21

Southern Taurids: November 4-5

Northern Taurids: November 11-12

Leonids: November 17-18

Geminids: December 13-14

Ursids: December 21-22

Full moons and supermoons

Twelve full moons will occur during 2024, and September and Octobers lunar events will also be considered supermoons, according to EarthSky.

A supermoon is typically described as a full moon that appears larger and brighter in the night sky due to its closer proximity to Earth. According to some astronomers, this occurs when the moon is within 90% of its closest approach to Earth, known as perigee. The Farmers Almanac associates each month's full moon with a specific name, while various indigenous tribes have their own names and meanings for the full moons.

Here are the full moons of 2024:

January 25: Wolf moon

February 24: Snow moon

March 25: Worm moon

April 23: Pink moon

May 23: Flower moon

June 21: Strawberry moon

July 21: Buck moon

August 19: Sturgeon moon

September 17: Harvest moon

October 17: Hunters moon

November 15: Beaver moon

December 15: Cold moon

Solar and lunar eclipses

2024 will see a series of eclipses, with two lunar eclipses and two solar eclipses, as reported by the Old Farmers Almanac.

The most eagerly awaited of these is the total solar eclipse on April 8, which will be visible from Mexico, the United States and Canada. This eclipse occurs when the moon moves between the Earth and the sun, completely blocking the sun's light.

Those in the path of totality, where the moon's shadow completely covers the sun, will witness a total solar eclipse. Those outside the path will experience a partial eclipse, where the moon only obscures part of the sun.

The next time a total solar eclipse will be visible across the contiguous US is in August 2044.

On October 2, a partial solar eclipse will be visible in parts of South America. Due to the moon being at the farthest point in its orbit from Earth, it will not entirely block the sun, resulting in a "ring of fire" effect as the sun's fiery light surrounds the moon's shadow.

Additionally, a penumbral lunar eclipse will be visible in various regions including Europe, North and East Asia, Australia, Africa, North America, and South America between March 24-25.

During a lunar eclipse, the moon appears dim or dark as it passes into Earth's shadow when the sun, Earth, and moon align. A penumbral lunar eclipse is a more subtle event that occurs when the moon moves through the outer shadow, or penumbra, of the Earth.

A partial lunar eclipse is when the Earth partially blocks the sun's light from reaching the full moon, and this will be visible over Europe and much of Asia, Africa, North America, and South America between September 17-18.

Check Time and Dates website to see when each of these eclipses will appear.