The new year will begin with the Quadrantid meteor shower, which will peak early Friday.
The Quadrantids have the potential for 200 meteors per hour under perfect conditions, but most astronomy enthusiasts can catch 20 to 30 meteors per hour under clear and dark skies during the peak, according to NASA. The moon will be asimple crescent” and set in the early evening, which should make for good meteor viewing conditions, according to the space agency.
When and where you can see the Quadrantids
The meteor shower will peak early Friday morning, according to NASA. Although meteor showers last for days, the hourly rate of meteors will be best during the peak and highest as dawn approaches.
The Quadrantids will be active until January 16according to the American Meteor Society.
NASA advises watching meteor showers in areas well away from city lights and streets. The Quadrantids are best seen from the Northern Hemisphere, and observers in the Northwest and Pacific regions will likely have the best viewing opportunities this year.
Those who go outside to watch the celestial spectacle should lie on their backs with their feet facing northeast and look up. Be prepared to wait about 30 minutes for your eyes to adjust to the dark. Spectators should also bring a blanket or sleeping bag to help with the cold January weather.
What is a meteor shower?
Meteorites are space rocks that enter the Earth’s atmosphere. They streak across the sky every night, and when Earth encounters many meteors at once, it’s called a meteor shower. Meteors heat up as they pass through the atmosphere, making them look like shooting stars.
Although most meteor showers come from comets, the Quadrantids come from asteroid 2003 EH1 — a small asteroid that was discovered on March 6, 2003.
The Quadrantids are also known for their bright fireball meteors, with larger bursts of light and color that can last longer than the average meteor shower, according to NASA.