UpcomingDec 28 – Jan 12

The Quadrantids

Brief but intense peak from the constellation Boötes.

Peak: Monday, January 4, 2027

Countdown to peak

251days

Peak rate

110

meteors per hour at peak

Velocity

km/s entering atmosphere

Radiant

Boötes

Look here

Best for

North

hemisphere

Radiant coordinates for Quadrantidsaren't catalogued in a format we can plot yet — find the area labelled Boötes on any star map.

Where it comes from

Parent body

Asteroid 2003 EH1 (possibly extinct comet)

The comet or asteroid whose dust Earth passes through each year.

First recorded

1825

Earliest documented observation.

Entry velocity

41 km/s

Speed at which meteoroids hit the atmosphere.

Radiant

Boötes

The apparent point of origin — meteors streak outward from here.

Best viewing time

Pre-dawn hours

When the radiant is highest above the horizon.

Hemisphere

Northern — best from Europe, N. America, Asia

Latitude bands that see the highest rates.

Peak lasts only ~6 hours — timing is critical. Named after a defunct constellation (Quadrans Muralis).

Tailored for the Quadrantids.

1
Get away from city lights
Light pollution hides most meteors. A rural or dark-sky site boosts your count by 5× or more.
2
Dark-adapt for 20–30 minutes
Your eyes need time to reach peak sensitivity. No phone screens during this window — use a red flashlight if needed.
3
Aim for the best time: pre-dawn hours
Earth turns into the debris stream during these hours, so meteors hit head-on and appear more frequent.
4
No telescope, no binoculars
Meteors appear all over the sky — you want the widest view possible. A reclining chair and a blanket are better tools than optics.

Next shower after Quadrantids

Eta Aquariids · peaks May 6