Quadrantid 2021 meteor shower: here’s how to watch

The Quadrantid meteor shower, which is one of the most powerful shows in the sky but can be difficult to see at times, is expected to peak on Saturday night, marking the first meteor shower of 2021.

The annual meteor shower is known for its “brilliant fireball meteors” and is “considered one of the best annual meteor showers,” according to NASA.

This year, a waning gibbous moon can make it more difficult to detect meteors, which typically light up a dark night sky, according to EarthSky. However, it’s still worth looking up to the skies for a glimpse of the annual light show.

Here’s what you need to know about the 2021 Quadrantid meteor shower:

What Causes Quadrantid Meteor Shower

The Quadrantids are no ordinary meteor shower. While most meteor showers are caused by tiny debris from a comet burning on entering Earth’s atmosphere, quadrantids are believed to be caused by debris from an asteroid or a possible ‘rocket comet. According to NASA.

Each year, these trails of debris come into contact with Earth’s atmosphere, where they burn and create colorful spectacles in the night sky.

When to watch

The International Meteor Organization predicts the peak will be on January 3 at 2:30 p.m. UTC, meaning people in North America have their best chance of seeing the shower before dawn on January 3.

While some meteor showers peak for days, Quadrantids have a window of only a few hours and are known to not always appear as expected.

How to observe the quadrantids

The quadrantids favor those of the northern hemisphere. The American Meteor Society recommends that people “face the northeast quadrant of the sky and center their view halfway up the sky.”

“When facing this direction, you will be able to see meteors bursting out of the radiant in all directions. This will make it easier to differentiate between quadrantids and random meteors from other sources,” the group said in a blog post.

What to expect from the first meteor shower of 2021

This year’s show might not be as flashy as in previous years due to the moonlight, but there could be as many as 100 meteors hissing across the sky every hour during its peak, according to AccuWeather. However, the outlet reported that people are more likely to see only a quarter of the action.

Next year’s shower should be even better. The American Meteor Society has said the 2022 Quadrandtids are expected to peak on January 3 at 9:00 p.m. UT with no moon present. This timing will favor an audience of sky spectators in Asia.