What you need to know about the Quadrantide meteor shower

With no time to waste in 2025, the first sky show of the year gets underway this week with the Quadrantid meteor shower peak.

NASA said the Quadrantid meteor shower is unique because of its short peak and the origin of shooting stars. Most meteor showers originate from comet debris, but the Quadrantids come from an asteroid.

A stargazing view as the Quadrantids meteor shower peaks at Pigeon Point Light Station in Pescadero, California, United States on January 4, 2024. (Photo by Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu via Getty Images)

(Getty Images)

The Quadrantids peak each year in early January when Earth passes through the debris trail from asteroid 2003 EH1. Astronomers say this asteroid could be a new object known as a “dead comet” or “rock comet”.

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Although the Quadrantids have been observed in the night sky since the early 1800s, their origin was only discovered in 2003.

Quadrantids meteor shower over the Pacific Ocean in Half Moon Bay, California, USA on January 4, 2024. (Photo by Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu via Getty Images)

Unlike other annual meteor showers, which peak over several days, the Quadrantids are also a fast sky-gazing show. The peak lasts only six hours. According to NASA, this brief encounter is due to the Earth crossing the thin stream of particles at a right angle.

According to American Meteor Society (AMS), this year’s peak occurs on Friday, with the best chance of seeing meteors early Friday morning.

What to expect for 2025’s Quadrantide meteor shower peak

During the peak, as many as 200 meteors can be seen under perfect weather and viewing conditions.

The timing of this year’s Quadrantid meteor shower peaks between 15:00 and 18:00 UTC (10:00 and 13:00 EST), favoring those in Hawaii and Alaska, according to AMS editor Robert Lunsford.

The cloud cover forecast for Friday morning.

(FOX Weather)

While early January doesn’t offer the best weather for stargazing, this year the peak is a few days after a new moon with only 11% illumination. That means less moonlight to compete with meteor showers.

Unfortunately, cloud cover will cover many parts of the United States with active winter weather.

According to the AMS, the Quadrantids continue until mid-January, when an average of 25 meteors per hour are possible in good conditions.