Quadrantid Meteor Shower, Known for Striking Fireballs, to Peak at Weekend
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Newsweek logo Quadrantid Meteor Shower, Known for Striking Fireballs, to Peak at Weekend
The first major meteor shower of 2021—the Quadrantids—is set to peak this weekend.
A meteor streaks across the sky above a camping site at the Negev desert near the city of Mitzpe Ramon on August 11, 2020. © MENAHEM KAHANA/AFP via Getty Images A meteor streaks across the sky above a camping site at the Negev desert near the city of…
The shower is active between December 27, 2020, and January 10, 2021, with the highest activity expected on the night of January 2-3, according to the American Meteor Society.
The Quadrantids have the potential to be one of the most spectacular showers of the year, with the possibility of seeing between 60 to 200 meteors per hour under ideal conditions, according to NASA.
The event is best viewed from the Northern Hemisphere, but for observers in North America the show is often spoilt by poor winter weather.
In addition, the peak of the meteor shower is relatively short compared to others, with maximum activity lasting only around six hours rather than the usual two days.
On the peak night for the Quadrantids in 2021, the moon will be around 84 percent full, which could also make it more difficult to see some of the meteors—colloquially referred to as "shooting stars."