Quadrantid meteor shower to peak in the UK this week

The shower is to be among the strongest and most consistent and could reach a maximum rate of 110 meters per hour.

The Quadrantid started its shower on 28 December 2023 and will last until 12 January, but on 3-4 January at around 12.53am it will reach its peak. 

What is the Quadrantids meteor shower?

Quadrantids are blue meteors with fine trains that appear to come from the constellation Bootes, near the Big Dipper according to the Royal Museum Greenwich.

Meteors are pieces of debris which enter Earth’s atmosphere at speeds of up to 43 miles per second (70 kilometres per second), vaporising and causing the streaks of light we call meteors.

The Quandrantid meteor shower. (Image: PA)

How to see the Quadrantid meteor shower

The Quadrantid meteor shower peak often takes place just before the full moon, which could cause the moonlight to interfere with the viewing of the shower.

You can see the shower with your naked eye but you'll want to head to a spot with little light pollution and high up, like a hill.

What do astronomers advise when watching the Quadrantid meteor shower?

Astronomers advise lying on your back and using your eyes - no telescopes or binoculars - to watch a shower, as you want to see as much of the sky as possible.  

NASA has also recommended giving your eyes time to adjust to the dark - so going outside half an hour before the shower is due to start.

"Try to stay off of your phone too, as looking at devices with bright screens will negatively affect your night vision and hence reduce the number of meteors you see," the space agency posted in a blog.