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Meteor ShowerSharp winter peak

Quadrantid Meteor Shower

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Quadrantid Meteor Shower

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Known details

KPNO/NOIRLab/NSF/AURA/P. Horálek (Institute of Physics in Opava) / CC BY 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

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Northern Hemisphere, pre-dawnWhere it's visible
A few hours onlyPeak window
YesVisible from the U.S.
14%Moon at peak
Viewing advice

Northern hemisphere only in practice, and the peak is famously narrow, often just a few hours. The radiant sits near 50 degrees north.

The best time to see Quadrantid Meteor Shower in 2027 is January 3-4, 2027. Timing status: Predicted dates.

A short, sharp burst to open the year.

The Quadrantids pack their peak into just a few hours, so timing and a dark sky matter more than usual. Catch the window and the rates can rival the Geminids.

Moon at the peak: waning crescent, 14% lit (excellent). A thin moon means minimal wash-out: dark skies for all but the faintest streaks.

Why it happens

Asteroid 2003 EH1
Inclined 71° to Earth's orbit. Every January, Earth reaches the node where this asteroid's dust crosses its path, and the debris burns up as the shower.
3D by Ian Webster

Where to view it

Best seen far from city lights. Tap a spot to plan a trip around it.

Brighter = more light pollution · NASA Black Marble

In season during January 3-4, 2027

Natural events whose season is on while this peaks, so one trip could catch both the sky and the ground.

Next time: Quadrantid Meteor Shower, January 3-4, 2028

Related cosmic events

More sky events connected by phenomenon, region, or travel window.

Frequently asked questions

When is Quadrantid Meteor Shower 2027?

Quadrantid Meteor Shower 2027: January 3-4, 2027.

When is Quadrantid Meteor Shower 2028?

Quadrantid Meteor Shower 2028: January 3-4, 2028.