Quadrantid Meteor Shower 2020: How To Watch It In NH

CONCORD, NH — The year 2020 starts off with what could be an above-average display of meteors during the Quadrantid shower’s annual peak overnight in the wee hours of Saturday, Jan. 4. Whether you’ll be able to see the fiery display depends not only on the weather but also on careful timing.

The National Weather Service forecast for during the Quadrantids peak calls for cloudy skies overnight Friday, tending to rain or snow Saturday morning, so finding a break in the weather might be difficult.

Unlike other shooting-star shows that peak over several nights, the Quadrantids crescendo lasts only a few hours, from 2 a.m. to 7 a.m. local time. Despite the narrow viewing window, the Quadrantids are worth the effort it takes to get outside at the right moment.

Not only are the Quadrantids famous for dazzling fireballs in an array of colors, but this year they could produce up to 120 shooting stars an hour during the peak viewing time, around 5 a.m. Saturday, Space.com reported. That’s about three times the rate in normal years.

The Quadrantids also differ from other meteor showers in that they’re larger bits of cosmic rock, resulting in spectacular streaks as they enter Earth’s atmosphere.

The first-quarter moon sets just after midnight, making for dark skies that will make the Quadrantids peak all the more spectacular, according to EarthSky.org.

Related: 2020 Guide To Meteor Showers, Supermoons, Other Celestial Events

The Quadrantids are the oddballs of meteor showers. Their origin is somewhat of a mystery to astronomers. Because the meteors once appeared to stream away from the northerly configuration of stars called Quadrans Muralis, the shower was named the Quadrantids. But the International Astronomical Union dropped Quadrans Muralis from the list of named constellations in 1992, more or less orphaning the meteor shower.

The best way to trace the movement of the Quadrantids in the sky is to look for the constellations of Boötes and Draco. Be sure to dress warmly and prepare to gaze upward for a while. Get to a dark sky away from city lights and give your eyes least 30 minutes to adjust.