How To Watch The Quadrantids, 2025's First Meteor Shower; Will It Be Visible In India?

The New Year 2025 already has an ethereal gift in store for skygazers. A stunning celestial event will dazzle the skies at the beginning of the year as the Quadrantids meteor shower will make its annual appearance.

The Quadrantids have been visible since Dec. 27, but their peak activity will occur on the night between Jan. 3 and Jan. 4, right at the beginning of the year.

The Quadrantids are considered one of the best meteor showers held annually and are characterised by their intense peak and bright fireballs that dazzle up the sky even though the experience may be short-lived. 

“Most meteor showers have a two-day peak, which makes catching sight of these other meteors much more possible. The Quadrantids peak, on the other hand, is much shorter – only a few hours,” according to NASA.

During the peak of the meteor showers, 60 to 200 Quadrantid meteors are usually visible per hour, provided the sky conditions are perfect, NASA said.

Unlike most meteor showers that originate from comets, the Quadrantids come from an asteroid named 2003 EH1, as per NASA. This asteroid completes one orbit around the sun every 5.52 years. It is believed that 2003 EH1 could be a "dead comet" or a "rock comet".

The Quadrantids, which are currently active, will continue till January 16, 2025. However, its peak time will be on the night between January 2 and 3, 2025 (January 3 and 4 in India).

The Quadrantids are best observed in the Northern Hemisphere, though they can also be seen at latitudes north of 51 degrees south, during the night and predawn hours. This year, they will be visible from India as well.

These beautiful meteor showers are currently active and will continue till Jan. 16. However, the peak activity will be seen on the night between Jan. 2 and 3, 2025 (Jan. 3 and 4 in India). The meteors will possibly peak at around 17:45 UTC (11:15 pm IST).

The velocity of the meteors can be 25.5 miles (41 kilometres) per second, according to NASA.

The 'Quadrantids' will be visible from Lucknow and one can spot 80 to 120 meteors per hour from the city, as per Indira Gandhi Planetarium’s senior scientific officer Sumit Srivastava ,who was quoted by NDTV.

To get the best view of the Quadrantids, find a location far from the city or street lights.

As per NASA, the Quadrantids, which peak during early January each year, are considered to be one of the best annual meteor showers. Most meteor showers have a two-day peak, which makes catching sight of these other meteors much more possible. The Quadrantids peak, on the other hand, is much shorter – only a few hours. During its peak, 60 to as many as 200 Quadrantid meteors can be seen per hour under perfect conditions.

Quadrantids are also known for their bright fireball meteors. Fireballs are larger explosions of light and color that can persist longer than an average meteor streak. This is because fireballs originate from larger particles of material. Fireballs are also brighter, with magnitudes brighter than -3.