2023 Quadrantid meteor shower

Best viewed: 2-3rd January 2023

If you’re lucky with clear skies, then the Quadrantids with their blue meteors are quite a treat!

What is the Quadrantid meteor shower?

• Every year, the Earth goes once around the Sun. And every January, the Earth crashes into a cloud of debris left behind by an unknown space object. As the debris burns up in the Earth’s atmosphere, it produces the meteor shower that we call the Quadrantids.
• At its peak, the Quadrantids can produce about 120 meteors per hour. They’re usually blue meteors with fine trails and there’s a good chance of seeing one that becomes a fireball.

When is the best time to see the Quadrantid meteor shower in 2023?

• Unfortunately, viewing conditions are not great for 2023, with the Moon being 86% full on 2nd January.
• The Quadrantids will start appearing from 26th December and continue until 16th January.

How to See the Quadrantid Meteor Shower from the UK

No special equipment is needed to view the Quadrantid meteor shower from the UK, but some preparation helps.

1. Check the Weather: Ensure clear skies by checking the weather forecast. If it’s cloudy, try observing a day or two before the peak.
2. Find a Dark Spot: Choose a dark, safe location with a wide view of the sky, away from buildings, trees, and street lights.
3. Adjust Your Eyes: Turn off all lights, including phones and torches, for 15 minutes to let your eyes adapt to the darkness. If needed, use a red filter on your torch.
4. Stay Comfortable: Dress warmly and bring something comfortable to sit or lie on. The Quadrantids peak lasts only 6 hours, so keep your eyes on the sky!

If you are planning to take pictures of meteors, Mary McIntyre has some very useful tips for you on how to take better meteor pictures.

Another great way to watch the Quadrantid is to buy or build yourself a meteor camera. You’ll be able to create amazing time lapse videos like the one below and join the UK network of over 186 meteor cameras. You don’t need any previous experience and it’s a great project to do with your kids or students!