Quadrantide meteor shower peaks this weekend and other celestial events in 2021

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It’s also notoriously difficult to spot due to the harsh January weather and short peak – only about six hours. It will be best seen in the Northern Hemisphere between 2 a.m. local time and dawn.

Usually between 50 and 100 meteors per hour are visible, especially in rural areas. While the bright moon will reduce this number, you may be able to see more meteors if the sky in your area is clear.

Check Time and Date to see what your odds are, or go outside to have a look yourself.
View the northeast sky and look about halfway. You can even catch a glimpse of some fireballs during the meteor shower. As per the advice of the American Meteor Society, you should look at the sky for at least an hour.

If the name of the meteor shower sounds strange, it is probably because it doesn’t sound like it is related to a constellation like other meteor showers. That’s because the eponymous constellation of the Quadrantids no longer exists – at least not as a recognized constellation.

The constellation Quadrans Muralis, which was first observed and noticed in 1795 between Bootes and Draco, is no longer on the International Astronomical Union’s list of modern constellations because it is considered obsolete.

The meteor shower radiates between the Big Dipper and Bootes.

Like the Geminid meteor shower, the Quadrantid comes from a mysterious asteroid or “rock comet” rather than an ice comet, which is unusual. This particular asteroid is 2003 EH1, which takes 5.52 years to orbit the sun once.

The shower’s short peak is because only a small stream of particles interacts with our atmosphere, and the flow takes place at a perpendicular angle. Every year the Earth passes this rubble path for a short time.

If you live in an urban area, you may want to drive to a place that isn’t dotted with city lights obstructing your view. If you can find an area unaffected by light pollution, meteors can be visible every few minutes from late evening to sunrise.

Find an open spot with a wide view of the sky and don’t forget to bundle up. Make sure you have a chair or blanket so you can see straight up. And give your eyes about 20 to 30 minutes to adjust to the darkness – without looking at your phone – so that the meteors are easier to spot.

Eyes to Heaven in 2021

The Quadrantids kick off the first of 12 meteor showers in 2021.

Typically for a normal year, 2021 will also have 12 full moons. (Last year there were 13 full moons, two of which were in October).

Here are all of the full moons and their names that will feature this year, according to the Farmer’s Almanac:
  • January 28 – Wolf moon
  • February 27 – Snow moon
  • March 28 – Worm Moon
  • April 26 – Pink moon
  • May 26 – Flower moon
  • June 24 – Strawberry Moon
  • July 23 – Buck moon
  • August 22 – Sturgeon moon
  • September 20 – Harvest Moon
  • October 20 – Hunter’s moon
  • November 19 – Beaver Moon
  • December 18 – Cold Moon
This year there will be two solar eclipses and two lunar eclipses – and three of these will be visible to some in North America, according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac.
A small portion of the Milky Way is visible in the night sky above Falkenhagen streets in Brandenburg, Germany on December 18, 2020.

A total lunar eclipse will occur on May 26, best visible to those in western North America and Hawaii from 4:46 a.m.ET to 9:51 a.m.ET.

An annular solar eclipse will occur on June 10, visible in northern and northeastern North America from 4:12 a.m. to 9:11 a.m. ET. The sun is not completely blocked by the moon, so wear eclipse goggles to view this event safely.

Nov. 19 will see a partial lunar eclipse, and skywatchers in North America and Hawaii will see it between 1 a.m. ET and 7.06 a.m. ET.

And the year ends with a total solar eclipse on December 4. It won’t be seen in North America, but those in the Falkland Islands, the southern tip of Africa, Antarctica and Southeast Australia will be able to see it.

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