Quadrantid Meteor Shower | 3rd-4th January

The Quadrantid meteor shower is generated from an asteroid called 2003 EH1, which orbits the Sun every 5.5 years. The meteor shower is sometimes called the Bootids, since their radiant (the point in the sky that the meteors appear to be coming from) is in the modern constellation Boötes.

Is it worth me getting out of bed for the Quadrantid meteor shower?

Unfortunately, not really. At best, the Quadrantids are notoriously faint meteors, with their peak sometimes lasting only a few years. This year, their peak coincides with a full Moon, and to make matters worse, the meteor shower’s radiant point never clears the horizon at night, making your meteor viewing even harder.

When and where do I look for the Quadrantid meteor shower?

The Quadrantid meteor shower lasts from 28 December to 12 January, and peaks before dawn on 4 January. The shower’s radiant point in the Boötes constellation remains stubbornly below the northern eastern horizon all night in southern WA, reducing the number of visible shooting stars. The Quadrantid meteor shower is popular in the northern hemisphere, with an average of about 25 meteors seen per hour.

Use the above image as your guide. Astronomical images provided by SkySafari, a Simulation Curriculum Company, All rights reserved www.simulationcurriculum.com.

A meteor (commonly called a “shooting star”) is an unexpected, brief streak of light you might see in the night sky. The streak of light is caused by space debris, which can be as tiny as a single grain of sand and travelling at speeds of up to 75km per second when it hits our atmosphere. When this debris burns up in Earth’s atmosphere, it causes a brief, bright streak of light in the sky, and it’s usually only visible for a few seconds.

A meteor shower is a celestial spectacle where large numbers of meteors, or “shooting stars”, streak across the night sky. These dazzling events occur when Earth passes through the debris trail left by a comet or other object that entered our Solar System and orbited the Sun.

Meteor showers are visible to the naked eye and offer you a mesmerising display of bright streaks of light. We think they add a touch of cosmic wonder to the night.

Where’s the best place for me to watch a meteor shower?

The best place to see a meteor shower is away from bright city lights, when the night sky is dark and with no moonlight. Bright moonlight and light pollution make it harder to see fainter meteors, however you may still be able to see the brighter ones.

Travel out to a dark sky location at one of WA’s Astrotourism Towns. If you’re an astrophotographer, it is an excellent opportunity to image meteors over some of WA’s iconic landscapes.

Do I need a telescope or binoculars to see a meteor shower?

You don’t need either a telescope or binoculars to see a meteor shower. Meteor showers are a great time to gather with your friends under the stars. Simply pack the drinks and snacks, roll out your favourite picnic rug, and start counting how many “shooting stars” you see!

Something interesting

Meteor showers are named after the constellation where the “shooting stars” appear to be coming from. If you have a handy smartphone app that helps you identify objects in the night sky, search for the Boötes constellation, and you’ll be looking in the right direction.

Be a citizen scientist and report meteor sightings. If you happen to see a very bright meteor (often referred to as a “fireball”), the fireballs team based at WA’s Curtin University would love to know. Report your fireball sighting with the International Meteor Organization.

The International Meteor Organization is a great place to discover more about all things meteors, check out their Meteor Shower Calendar, and you can even become a member.