Heather Wendelboe processed this composite photo of Quadrantid meteors from images taken on the morning of January 3, 2021 at Curt Gowdy State Park, Wyoming, USA. If you trace the meteor paths backwards, you can see a radiant just 10 degrees above the horizon. © Heather Wendelboe (https://bolo-photo.com/)

The Quadrantids can be one of the most powerful phenomena of the year, yet they are difficult to observe. The main factor is that the heavy activity indicator only lasts about 6 hours. The reason the peak is so short is due to the shower’s thin particle stream and the fact that the Earth crosses the stream at a perpendicular angle. Therefore, the Earth passes through the densest part of the stream fairly quickly. Meteors from this source can be seen for two weeks, with an emphasis on January 3, but hourly rates outside of the date of maximum activity are very low. Unlike most meteor showers that originate from comets, the Quadrantids were found to originate from an asteroid. Asteroid 2003 EH1 It takes 5.52 years to orbit the sun. It is possible that 2003 EH1 is a “dead comet” or a new type of object, sometimes called a “rock comet” by astronomers.

These meteors were first observed in 1825 and appeared to radiate from the obsolete constellation Meteor Quadrans Muralis (Wall quadrant). Today, this area of ​​the sky lies within the boundaries of the constellation Boottes, the Shepherd. In the early January nights, this area of ​​sky lies very low in the northwest of the evening sky as viewed from the Northern Hemisphere. There is usually very little activity observed at this time. Over the course of the night, this area of ​​the sky fluctuates about 40 degrees below the North Celestial Pole. From areas south of the 40th parallel north it is actually below the horizon. It then begins to slowly rise into the northeastern sky, where it reaches a useful altitude around 02:00 local time (depending on your latitude). Between this time and dawn you have the best chance of seeing these meteors. If the peak occurs during this time, you’re in for a treat as seen from rural locations, speeds can exceed 100 per hour under moonless skies. Fortunately, this year the waxing crescent moon sets in the evening hours, so there will be no interference from the moon when observing the Quadrantids in the morning hours.

The diagrams above show the entire sky towards the north in the evening, midnight and morning hours as viewed from the 40th parallel. The circle represents the position of the Quadrantid radiator on the night of January 2-3, 2025. The stripes represent Quadrantid meteors as observed throughout the night. Notice how the jet lies on the horizon in the evening hours and slowly rises as the night progresses. It’s easy to see why more meteors are visible in the morning hours when the radiant is higher in the sky and the horizon blocks less activity!

Predictions for the 2025 Quadrantid peak range from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. UTC on January 3rd. This time frame favors the Pacific region including the Hawaiian Islands and Alaska. Those observing from the Southern Hemisphere won’t see much activity at all because the radiation doesn’t rise very high in the sky before dawn sets in.

The best strategy to see the most activity is to look toward the northeast quadrant of the sky. If you look in this direction, you can see meteors shooting out of the radiant in all directions. This makes it easier to distinguish between Quadrantids and meteors from other sources. To facilitate a scientifically useful observation session, you must carefully note the start and end times of your session. If you were able to tell the time of each meteor, it would be a tremendous help in analyzing the intensity of the shower. The type of meteor must be recorded as well as its size. Other parameters that can be recorded include colors, speed (degrees per second or verbal description), and whether the meteor left a sustained trail. Fireballs should be noted and a separate online form completed after the session.

Serious observers should watch numerous ebbs and flows of activity occur for at least an hour. Doing little for a short period of time can result in a lull in activity. If you watch for at least an hour, you are guaranteed to get the best this exhibition has to offer. Observers are also encouraged to fill out a visual observation form on the International Meteor Organization website. You must register with the IMO to use the form. However, there is an option to register for free if you do not want to become a full member. There is often little data available for this display, especially when the moon intervenes. So if your skies are clear, please make an effort to see this display. This is your last chance to observe increased meteor activity until the peak of the Lyrids in April.

The Quadrantids also provide a good opportunity to observe strong activity for those interested in observing meteor showers via radio. Meteors do not emit radio waves, but they act as mirrors, reflecting radio waves from distant transmitters that would otherwise not be heard. This is called forward scattering, as opposed to backscattering, where the transmitter and receiver are in the same location (radar). For practical reasons, the frequency range 50 – 150 MHz (wavelength 6 m – 2 m) is used. These include, among other things, the FM band and TV channels that have not yet converted to digital. Most reflections are brief (less than a second), but brighter meteors can cause reflections lasting minutes. The shortest radio reflections are caused by faint meteors, which are fainter than visual ones. In contrast to visual rates, radio rates are not at their maximum when a stream’s radiator is at its zenith, but rather when it is 45 degrees high. At higher altitudes the rates fall again. Radio reflections can be observed regardless of daylight, clouds or moonlight, providing a more comprehensive view of streams. The best time to collect Quadrantids would be around 4:00 a.m. on January 3 and again around 1:00 p.m. (1:00 p.m.) local time. Quadrantid activity is one of the best of the year, but only lasts one day.

We look forward to your results!

Robert Lunsford and Christian Steyaert

Tags: 2025 Quadrantid Meteor Shower January Meteor Shower Quadrantid Meteor Shower Quadrantids