Stargazers can ring in the start of 2025 by witnessing the first meteor shower of the year.

According to the American Meteor Society (AMS), the Quadrantids, one of the “most powerful” features of the year, are expected to peak Thursday night into early Friday morning.

According to AMS, peak activity is expected between 10 p.m. and 1 a.m. EST, with the Quadrantids capable of producing about 120 meteors per hour.

However, according to NASA, the peak typically occurs over a much shorter period of time than other meteor showers. Most meteor showers have a two-day peak, but the Quadrantids peak for only a few hours due to the meteor shower’s thin stream of particles and the fact that the Earth crosses the stream at a perpendicular angle.

According to AMS, the Earth therefore quickly passes through the densest part of the current.

Where do the Quadrantids come from?

According to NASA, the Quadrantids come from asteroid 2003 EH1, unlike most meteor showers that originate from comets. Asteroid 2003 EH1 takes about 5.52 years to orbit the Sun and could be a “dead comet” or “rock comet,” a rare celestial body that has characteristics of both an asteroid and a comet.

The “small” asteroid, only about two miles in diameter, was discovered in March 2003. Quadrantid meteors were first seen in 1825, according to NASA.

According to NASA, the Quadrantids are considered by astronomers to be one of the “best” annual meteor showers. They peak in early January each year and can produce 60 to 200 meteors per hour under perfect conditions.

They are also known for their bright fireballs, according to NASA. The Quadrantids form from larger particles of material that result in larger explosions of light and color that can last longer than your average meteor streak.

Here’s how to look at the Quadrantids

The Quadrantid radiant – the point in the sky from which the meteors appear to originate – is an ancient constellation called Quadrans Muralis, which lies between the constellations Bootes and Draco.

The best way to view the Quadrantids is from the Northern Hemisphere in the hours before dawn, as this area of ​​the sky lies very low in the northwest in the evening. But as the night progresses, the sky will swing 40 degrees below the north celestial pole before slowly rising into the northeastern sky, according to AMS.

“Between this time and dawn is your best chance of seeing these meteors,” the AMS said.

As the crescent moon wanes, the sky remains dark and provides good viewing conditions as long as visibility is not obscured by clouds.

According to NASA, viewers can lie flat on their backs with their feet facing northeast to enjoy as much of the night sky as possible.

“If you look in this direction, you can see meteors shooting out of the radiant in all directions,” the AMS said.

With peak activity expected between 3:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. UTC, viewers in the Pacific region, including the Hawaiian Islands and Alaska, will have the best viewing conditions, according to AMS.

According to NASA, it is important to give your eyes at least 30 minutes to adjust to the darkness to suit the viewing conditions. “Serious observers” should watch for at least an hour, according to AMS, as numerous peaks and valleys will occur.