Quadrantids meteor shower peaks tonight - how Scots can catch amazing spectacle
Scots have been treated to a number of incredible night-time displays recently. The Northern Lights cascaded above us on New Year's Day, prompting readers to send the Record dazzling shots of the colourful night sky.
Now, the country is gearing up for the first meteor shower of 2025. The Quadrantids meteor shower peaks tonight, Friday, January 3. This is the first opportunity of the year to witness fireballs in the sky.
The Quadrantids meteor shower is among the strongest and most consistent meteor showers and with clear skies will be visible until January 4 early morning. At its peak, as many as 110 meteors per hour could be visible, says NASA.
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The shower is set to deliver 20 to 30 meteors per hour under clear, dark skies at its peak. The shower is viewable in an area with low light pollution but the peak occurs just before the full moon, so moonlight will cause some interference. The peak period of the Quadrantids is a few hours, unlike other meteor showers that stay for two days.
NASA recently shared their sky watching tips for January 2025, giving Scots the best chance of seeing something spectacular overhead. The viewing period lasts throughout the month but the binoculars should be dusted off for the Quadrantids shower tonight.
What are Quadrantids?
Quadrantids are blue meteors with fine trains that appear to come from the constellation Bootes, near the Big Dipper.
Meteors are pieces of debris which enter Earth’s atmosphere at speeds of up to 43 miles per second (70km per second), vaporising and causing the streaks of light we call meteors.
What is a meteor shower?
A meteor shower occurs several times a year when Earth passes through debris left by passing comets — and sometimes asteroids. The Quadrantids originate from debris from the asteroid 2003 EH1.
As these fast-moving space rocks enter Earth’s atmosphere, they encounter resistance from the air, become very hot, and eventually burn up. Sometimes the surrounding air glows briefly, leaving behind a fiery tail — the end of a "shooting star."
How to view a meteor shower
The optimal time to watch a meteor shower is in the early predawn hours, when the moon is low in the sky. The main hindrances to a clear view of meteors are competing sources of light — such as a bright moon or artificial glow. The best opportunities for viewing are on cloudless nights when the moon is at its smallest.
No special equipment is needed to view the various meteor showers that occur annually, just a location away from city lights. And remember, keep your gaze upwards, not downwards.
Your eyes will be better adapted to spot shooting stars if you aren’t constantly checking your phone. The Quadrantids will reach their peak on a night with a slim crescent moon, just 11 per cent full.
What else is there to look forward to?
The Aurora Borealis delighted locals from Hamilton to the Highlands on January 1 and there is more in store for enthusiasts across the country. On January 17 and 18, there is a Venus and Saturn conjunction. This occurs when, over a couple of weeks, the two planets come within just a couple of finger widths' distance apart in the sky.
All month, four planets will be visible. In the first couple of hours after dark, you'll find Venus and Saturn in the southwest, Jupiter high overhead, and Mars in the east. A telescope is needed to see Uranus and Neptune.
Stargazers can also clap eyes on Mars at opposition. Throughout January, the Red Planet will sit directly opposite the Sun from Earth and will shine brightly all night. It's in the east as night falls and in the southwest at dawn. The Lyrids, the next meteor shower, will reach their peak in mid-April.
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