Quadrantid Meteor Shower Set to Peak Overnight Jan. 3–4

While most of the world rings in the New Year with fireworks, the cosmos is preparing its own pyrotechnics.

The annual Quadrantid meteor shower is set to peak overnight between Jan. 3 and Jan. 4, 2026, marking the arrival of what astronomers call one of the “big three” celestial displays of the year. However, this year’s show comes with a significant celestial obstacle: a bright “Wolf Supermoon” that threatens to wash out all but the most brilliant streaks of light.

A Short, Sharp Peak

Unlike the Perseids in August or the Geminids in December, which can put on a steady show for several nights, the Quadrantids are notoriously fickle. Their peak is intense but brief, typically lasting only about six hours.

According to the American Meteor Society, the brevity is due to the way Earth intersects the debris stream. Most meteor streams are wide, but the Quadrantid stream is narrow, and Earth crosses it at a nearly perpendicular angle. This means our planet plows through the densest part of the debris very quickly.

Viewing the 2026 Display

Under ideal conditions, the Quadrantids can produce upwards of 120 meteors per hour. In 2026, the 100% full moon will act as a natural “light polluter,” likely reducing visible counts to about 10 to 25 per hour.

Skywatchers in the Northern Hemisphere have the best seat in the house. The meteors appear to radiate from the constellation Boötes, near the handle of the Big Dipper. For those in New Mexico and the rest of North America, the best viewing window will be the early morning hours of Sunday, Jan. 4, just before dawn, after the radiant has climbed high into the northeastern sky.

Despite the moonlight, the Quadrantids are famous for producing “fireballs”—exceptionally bright, long-lasting streaks of light that can pierce through even the glow of a full moon.

The Ghost of a Constellation

The history of the shower is as mysterious as its short peak. Most meteor showers are named after modern constellations (like the Leonids from Leo), but the Quadrantids are named after a “ghost” constellation.

Quadrans Muralis (the Mural Quadrant) was a star group created by French astronomer Jérôme Lalande in 1795. While it was once a staple of star charts, the International Astronomical Union omitted it from the official list of 88 constellations in 1922. The stars were absorbed into Boötes and Draco, but the meteor shower retained its original name—a final, celestial memorial to a forgotten constellation.

An Unusual Parent

The source of the debris is also an anomaly. While most meteor showers are caused by the icy tails of comets, the Quadrantids originate from Asteroid 2003 EH1.

Scientists believe this “rock comet” is actually an extinct comet that has lost all its ice and volatiles. Some astronomers have even linked it to Comet C/1490 Y1, a “lost” comet recorded by Chinese, Japanese, and Korean astronomers over 500 years ago.

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Tips for New Year Skywatchers:

• Time: Best between 3:00 a.m. and dawn on Jan. 4.
• Direction: Face North/Northeast toward the Big Dipper.
• Equipment: None needed. The naked eye provides the widest field of view.
• Comfort: Dress in layers; New Mexico’s January temperatures can drop rapidly during the pre-dawn hours.