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The Quadrantids meteor display will hit its maximum on Jan. 3, 2026.(Image credit: Yuhan Liao/Getty Images)ShareShare by:
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Stargazers can expect a pair of astronomical events on Saturday, Jan. 3, as the inaugural full moon of 2026 will be closely followed by the apex of one of the year’s most prominent meteor showers.
Despite not being as well-known as the Perseids in August or the Geminids in December, the Quadrantids of January can be just as abundant. They’ll be observable this year from Dec. 28 to Jan. 12 and will hit their high point on Jan. 3, commencing around 4 p.m. EST (21:00 UTC).
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It’s a concise peak, lasting around six hours, thus North American observers should begin looking as soon as darkness descends. Although meteors from the Quadrantids are generally on the dimmer side, they’re known to produce radiant “fireballs.”
Quadrantids can be discerned anywhere in the heavens, but they give the impression of emanating from the northern portion of the sky — notably, the constellation Boötes, a segment of which formerly bore the name Quadrans Muralis (hence the designation of the meteor display). An ideal method for visualizing the originating point of the Quadrantids is to gaze at the night sky in proximity to the handle of the renowned Big Dipper asterism.
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The Quadrantid meteor display occurs when, each January, our planet journeys through a thin pathway of cosmic dust and residue orbiting the sun. The trail is believed to stem from an object identified as 2003 EH, which may be either an asteroid or a defunct comet, requiring 5.5 years to circle the sun from roughly the same distance as Earth (though at a safe remove), according to EarthSky.
The subsequent notable meteor display will be the Lyrids in April. When the Lyrid meteor display achieves its maximum on the night of April 21-22, during a crescent moon phase, sky conditions should be optimal for observing approximately 18 meteors per hour.
To amplify the quantity of meteors you observe during either phenomenon, seek out a spot with an unobstructed view encompassing as much of the night sky as feasible. The luminous moon during the Quadrantids will render attempts to seek out darkened skies somewhat futile, but try to position the moon behind you to improve your chances of seeing meteors.
Jamie CarterSocial Links NavigationLive Science contributor
Jamie Carter is a self-employed reporter and consistent contributor to Live Science, located in Cardiff, Wales. He authored A Stargazing Program For Beginners and presents lectures regarding astronomy and the natural world. Jamie is a recurring contributor to Space.com, TechRadar.com, Forbes Science, BBC Wildlife magazine, Scientific American, among numerous others. He serves as editor for WhenIsTheNextEclipse.com.
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