Quadrantid meteor shower 2021: when it is, how to see it

The Quadrantids is the first of the major annual meteor showers in 2021. The Quadrantid meteor shower promises swift meteors and the shower is expected to peak at 14:30 UT on 3 January 2021. The best time to look for Quadrantid meteors will be on the nights of 2/3 and 3/4 January.

However, a waning gibbous Moon will cause problems this year, its glare drowning out all but the brighter trails.

• For more info, read our guide to what causes meteor showers, how to observe and record a meteor shower and our beginner’s guide to meteor showers.

How many Quadrantid meteors will I be able to see?

The Quadrantids’ peak ZHR (zenithal hourly rate) is around 120 meteors per hour but can vary. The highest observed rates have approached 600 meteors per hour, while the lowest have dipped to just 60 meteors per hour.

However, note that the ZHR figure is a normalised value of what you could expect to see under perfect conditions. It’s used to allow comparison between meteor showers and doesn’t represent what you’ll actually see.

The visual hourly rate is often significantly lower than the quoted ZHR and varies over the course of a night.

The Quadrantids’ peak is typically rather narrow at just a few hours wide. As the expected peak is roughly in the middle of the day on 3 January, it means remaining activity in the periods of darkness before and after the peak is likely to be rather low.

The shower’s radiant – the point from which the meters appear to emanate in the night sky – is located in the region of sky between Draco, Boötes, Ursa Major and Hercules.

It’s a region that used to be occupied by the now defunct constellation Quadrans Muralis, the Mural Quadrant, hence the shower’s name.

How to see a Quadrantid meteor

Meteor observing doesn’t require any telescopes or fancy equipment. All you need is your naked eye and, preferably, some good company.

Find a place dark and free of light pollution: somewhere away from towns and cities, provided it is safe to do so and within local COVID guidelines.

If you do happen to live away from light pollution and can observe from the comfort of your own garden, turn off all lights so your view isn’t affected. You’ll already have the light of the Moon to contend with!

Avoid using lights such as torches and mobile phones as this will spoil your adapted night vision. If you really need to, use a red torch or turn your phone’s screen red in the settings.

It may take about 20 minutes for your eyes to adapt to the darkness, but  after a while you should start to see more stars and, hopefully, some meteors shooting across the sky.

As you’re observing in January, remember to wrap up warm, bring something to eat and perhaps a hot drink as well.

Use a star chart or stargazing app to find Draco, Boötes, Ursa Major and Hercules, look around this region of the sky and, if you happen to see a meteor shooting away from it during the shower’s activity period, chances are you’ve just seen a Quadrantid.

Pete Lawrence is an experienced meteor shower observer and a co-host of The Sky at Night.