How to catch the Quadrantids, first meteor shower of 2025

When the Quadrantids meteor shower peaks on Friday, it will be the first chance of the year to see the fireballs in the sky.

A waning crescent moon means good visibility in bright and dark conditions.

Most meteor showers are named after the constellations from which they appear to originate in the night sky. But the Quadrantids “were named after a constellation that no longer exists,” said NASA’s William Cooke.

These meteors usually do not have long streaks, but the heads can look like bright fireballs. The peak could reveal as many as 120 meteors per hour, according to NASA.

The tour lasts until January 16. Here’s what you need to know about the Quadrantids and other meteor showers.

What is a meteor shower?

As the Earth orbits the Sun, several times a year it passes through debris left by passing comets – and sometimes through asteroids. The source of the Quadrantids is debris from the asteroid 2003 EH1.

When these fast-moving space rocks enter Earth’s atmosphere, the debris encounters new air resistance and becomes very hot, eventually burning up.

Sometimes the surrounding air briefly glows, leaving behind a fiery tail — the end of a “shooting star.”

No special equipment is needed to see the various meteor showers that flash every year, just a place away from city lights.

How to see a meteor shower

The best time to observe the meteor shower is early before dawn, when the Moon is low in the sky.

Competing light sources – such as a bright moon or artificial glow – are the main obstacles to a clear view of meteors. Cloudless nights when the moon is waning are optimal viewing opportunities.

And keep looking up, not down. Your eyes will adjust better to spotting shooting stars if you’re not checking your phone.

The Quadrantids will peak on a thin crescent night, only 11% full.

When is the next meteor shower?

The next meteor shower, the Lyrids, will peak in mid-April.