December 28 – January 12 · Boötes
Quadrantids
A brief, sharp new-year peak
See the Quadrantids from your location
See the exact local peak time and how high the radiant climbs from where you are.
What is the Quadrantids meteor shower?
One of the year's strongest showers, but its peak lasts only a few hours, so timing is everything. The radiant sits in northern Boötes — in a now-defunct constellation, Quadrans Muralis, that gave the shower its name.
When do the Quadrantids peak in 2026?
The Quadrantids peak on the night of January 3, 2026. Under ideal dark skies with the radiant high overhead they can produce up to 120 meteors an hour — the number you'll actually see depends on your latitude, the moon, and how dark your sky is.
Quadrantids at a glance
Where the Quadrantids come from
The Quadrantids are debris shed by 2003 EH1, a asteroid. Each year the Earth ploughs through this ancient trail of dust and the specks burn up in our atmosphere as meteors.
How to watch the Quadrantids
Get away from city lights
Light pollution is the enemy. A dark rural sky can turn a handful of meteors into dozens.
Look up after midnight
Most showers are best between midnight and dawn, when your side of Earth turns to face the debris stream head-on.
Let your eyes adapt
Give your eyes 20 minutes in the dark and put the phone away. Then just watch — meteors can streak across any part of the sky.
Common questions about the Quadrantids
When do the Quadrantids peak in 2026?+
The Quadrantids reach their maximum on the night of January 3, 2026, though a few meteors are visible from December 28 – January 12.
Where should I look to see the Quadrantids?+
The meteors radiate from the constellation Boötes, but they streak across the whole sky — you don't need to find the radiant. Just face the darkest part of your sky and take in as much of it as you can.
Do I need a telescope to watch the Quadrantids?+
No. Meteor showers are a naked-eye event — a telescope's narrow view would only work against you. All you need is a dark sky, a reclining chair, and some patience.
What causes the Quadrantids?+
The Quadrantids happen when Earth passes through a stream of debris left behind by 2003 EH1. The dust grains hit our atmosphere at 41 km/s and burn up as bright streaks of light.
Other meteor showers
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