Get ready to stargaze in California as two exciting events kick off the new year: a Quadrantid meteor shower and a celestial parade of planets.
The Quadrantid meteor shower, one of the best annual displays, is expected to appear on January 2-3, with the peak time at 4 a.m. The meteor shower is caused by fragments from an asteroid called 2003 EH1, which takes 5.5 years to orbit the sun.
Later in the month, a “parade of planets” will be visible in the evening sky on January 10, with six planets aligning together including Mars, Jupiter, Uranus, Venus, Neptune, and Saturn. The peak time for this event is expected on January 21.
To view these events with the naked eye, find a dark location away from city lights and come prepared for winter weather with warm clothing and a comfortable viewing spot.
California offers several prime locations for stargazing, including Death Valley National Park, Joshua Tree National Park, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Sequoia National Park, Kings Canyon National Park, Yosemite National Park, Shasta County, Siskiyou County, Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park, and others.
Mark your calendars for other notable meteor showers in 2025, including the Lyrids (April 21-22), Eta Aquariid (May 4-5), Southern Delta Aquariid (July 29-30), Alpha Capricornid (July 30-31), Perseid (July 17-24), and Draconids (October 8).
Source: https://eu.desertsun.com/story/news/nation/california/2024/12/27/when-is-the-meteor-shower-planetary-alignment-in-2025-california/77258964007