Quadrantid meteor shower peaks this weekend and other celestial events in 2021

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It’s also notoriously difficult to observe due to the harsh January weather and the short rush – roughly six hours. It will be best seen in the northern hemisphere between 2 a.m. local time and dawn.

Between 50 and 100 meteors are usually visible per hour, especially in rural areas. While the bright moon will reduce this number, you may be able to see more meteors if the sky is clear in your area.

Check the time and date to see what your chances are, or step outside to take a look for yourself.
Look at the sky to the northeast and look halfway up. You may even spot fireballs during the meteor shower. Monitor the sky for at least an hour, according to advice from the American Meteor Society.

If the name of the meteor shower sounds strange, it’s probably because it doesn’t seem to be related to a constellation, like other meteor showers. This is because the namesake constellation of the Quadrantids no longer exists – at least, not as a recognized constellation.

The constellation Quadrans Muralis, observed and noted for the first time in 1795 between Bootes and Draco, is no longer included in the list of modern constellations of the International Astronomical Union because it is considered obsolete.

The meteor shower radiates between the Big Dipper and Bootes.

Like the Geminid meteor shower, the Quadrantid originates from a mysterious asteroid or “rock comet”, rather than an icy comet, which is unusual. This particular asteroid is 2003 EH1, which takes 5.52 years to orbit the sun once.

The short peak of the shower is due to the fact that only a small flow of particles interacts with our atmosphere, and the flow occurs at a perpendicular angle. Every year, Earth crosses this debris trail for a short time.

If you live in an urban area, you might want to go somewhere that isn’t littered with city lights that will obstruct your view. If you can find an area unaffected by light pollution, meteors could be visible every two minutes from late evening until dawn.

Find an open area with a clear view of the sky and don’t forget to bundle up. Make sure you have a chair or blanket so you can look straight up. And give your eyes about 20-30 minutes to adjust to the dark – without looking at your phone – so meteors are easier to spot.

Eyes on the sky in 2021

The Quadrantids are launching the first of 12 meteor showers in 2021.

Typical of a normal year, 2021 will also have 12 full moons. (Last year had 13 full moons, including two in October).

Here are all the full moons and their names occurring this year, according to the Farmer’s Almanac:
  • January 28 – Wolf moon
  • February 27 – Snow moon
  • March 28 – Worm moon
  • April 26 – Pink Moon
  • May 26 – Flower Moon
  • June 24 – Strawberry moon
  • July 23 – Buck moon
  • August 22 – Sturgeon moon
  • September 20 – Harvest Moon
  • October 20 – Hunter’s moon
  • November 19 – Beaver Moon
  • December 18 – Cold moon
This year there will be two solar eclipses and two moon eclipses – and three of them will be visible to some in North America, according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac.
A small portion of the Milky Way can be seen in the night sky above Falkenhagen streets in Brandenburg, Germany, December 18, 2020.

A total lunar eclipse will occur on May 26, best seen for those of western North America and Hawaii from 4:46 a.m. ET to 9:51 a.m. ET.

An annular solar eclipse will occur on June 10, visible over northern and northeastern North America from 4:12 a.m. to 9:11 a.m. ET. The sun will not be completely blocked by the moon, so be sure to wear eclipse glasses to view this event safely.

November 19 will see a partial lunar eclipse, and sky watchers in North America and Hawaii will see it between 1 a.m. ET and 7:06 a.m. ET.

And the year ends with a total solar eclipse on December 4th. It won’t be seen in North America, but those in the Falkland Islands, southern tip of Africa, Antarctica, and southeast Australia will be able to spot it.

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