The year 2020 will be here before we know it, and with it will come all sorts of experiences and adventures we have yet to discover. One of the first awesome experiences of the year is the Quadrantids meteor shower, taking place just a few days after the start of the year.
The annual Quadrantid meteor shower is coming up soon after the turn of the year in the very early morning hours of January 4, 2020. Unlike other annual meteor showers, the peak is extremely short, so you’ve got to be sharp to catch it - but it’s worth the effort.
flickr/boy wakanmuri
If you’re in an area with low light pollution where the stargazing is good, you may be able to see up to 100 meteors per hour zoom across the night sky. The Quadrantid meteors are a little fainter than some of our other favorites, so be sure to get far away from cities and towns to maximize your chance of seeing these “shooting stars.”
flickr/Donovan Shortey
Luckily for us, the moon will only be about 58% full on the morning of January 4th, meaning that it will cause minimal light interference for those who are gazing skyward.
flickr/Josh Beasley
Wondering how to spot the fast-moving Quadrantines? When you go out to see the show, just find the Big Dipper. Then move your gaze down a bit and you’ll find the visual spot from which the meteors seem to originate in the sky.
Wikipedia/EarthSky Communications, Inc.
The peak of the Quadrantid meteor shower is exceptionally sharp, only lasting a matter of four to six hours. The meteors should be most easily visible from 2:00 a.m. to 4:00 a.m. on the morning of January 4.
Getty Images/Haitong Yu
Kick off the new year in brilliant fashion with a pre-dawn meteor shower that promises to be easy to spot (right under the handle of the Big Dipper) and resplendent with bright glowing meteors. The window for viewing the Quadrantid meteor shower is short, so set an alarm on your phone now – so you don’t forget!
flickr/boy wakanmuri
flickr/Donovan Shortey
flickr/Josh Beasley
Wikipedia/EarthSky Communications, Inc.
Getty Images/Haitong Yu
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.
Address: Nebraska, USA
