You have to see the first fiery meteor shower of 2026
The New Year is here, and the Quadruple Meteor Shower is coming in hot. Here’s how to see this often spectacular shower at its peak
The New Year is here, and so are the Quadrantids. The first meteor shower of 2026 is known for its bright fireballs and bolides – large meteoroids that explode in the atmosphere in dramatic fashion, sometimes showering meteorites on Earth below.
The Quadrantids are an annual bath lasting from November to early January. This year the Quadrantids will be at their peak from the night of January 3 to the early hours of January 4. Best seen from the Northern Hemisphere, the ideal time to get out and see some of these bright fireballs is early morning on January 4, according to NASA. Unfortunately, the full moon rises the night before, so the moonlight may interfere with your ability to see these shooting stars.
To get the best chance of seeing meteors, look for the brightness of the Quadrantids – the point in the sky where they appear to originate. First observed in 1825, the meteor shower originates from an obsolete constellation called Quadrans Muralis – named by a French astronomer in 1795 after it was excluded from the International Astronomical Union’s catalogue. official constellation In 1922. Instead look at Ursa Major, or the Big Dipper, and look toward the end of its handle.
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However, the Quadrantids do not come from stars. Unlike other meteor showers, which are caused by debris falling from comets, the Quadrantids are created by an asteroid, 2003 EH1. NASA says this asteroid discovered in 2003 may actually be a dead comet. Some astronomers believe there may be another object that contributes. meteor showerComet named 96P/Machholz.
If you can be out in the early hours of January 4, do so as safely as possible away from bright light sources such as street lamps and buildings. Give your eyes 30 minutes to adjust to the darkness and look toward the northern sky. So just be patient!
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