The first meteor shower of 2025, projected to be one of the best annual showers, will reach its peak activity on Thursday night. According to NASA, hundreds of meteors are expected to brighten the night sky under optimal weather conditions.
The Quadrantids have been active since December 26, 2024, and will persist through January 16. The meteor shower is named after the Quadrans Muralis constellation and appears near the Big Dipper. It’s caused by debris from an asteroid passing into Earth’s atmosphere, producing large explosions of light and color.
To view the best spectacle, find a location away from light pollution in the Northern Hemisphere, lie flat on your back with feet facing northeast, and allow your eyes to adjust for 30 minutes before gazing up at the sky. Cloud cover will affect viewing in some states, including Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Wyoming, Ohio, Michigan, Maine, Tennessee, and parts of Pennsylvania and New York.
The Quadrantids are known for their bright fireballs that are three times brighter than average meteors. They move at about 25 miles per second and have a shorter peak compared to other annual meteor showers due to Earth’s trajectory with the shower.
Additionally, the Northern Lights may be more visible in 2025 due to a recent solar maximum.
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/tylerroush/2025/01/02/first-meteor-shower-of-2025-peaks-tonight-heres-how-to-watch