Start 2025 with Quadrantid Meteor Shower: Here’s what to expect – Times of India
Are you in New York this New Year? Start 2025 by witnessing a spectacular celestial event! During the first five days of January, the Quadrantid meteor shower will light up the night sky and will be visible from New York. The celestial event will also include 40 shooting stars per hour and people will also be able to see Mars at its biggest and brightest form in 2025.
What is a Quadrantid meteor?
A typical meteor shower delivers about 20 to 30 meteors per hour, but the Quadrantid meteor shower can produce over 40 meteors in less than an hour.This year, with no interference from the moon, it promises to be an even more spectacular sight.
The Quadrantid meteor is an annual celestial event and is known for their brief periods but intense peaks and frequent bright fireballs. The Quadrantids derive their name from the constellation Quadrans Muralis.
The Quadrantids are unique in that their peak activity period is relatively short, lasting only a few hours. In 2025, the Quadrantid meteor shower is expected to peak on January 3.
A board member of Rockland Astronomy Club, Frank Bifulco mentioned that January is a good month to stargaze as celestial objects will be visible earlier in the evening. As the clock strikes 12, people in the US can see the white and yellow stars of the constellation Canis Major.
How to watch the Quadrantid meteor shower?
The best place to watch the Quadrantid meteor shower is the northern hemisphere. Try to find a dark location far from city lights and has minimum or no pollution. Clear skies are important to view the meteor shower and make sure to look in all directions as they can pass through any direction.
What can you see in space this January?
In January, the stars are seen in clusters in the Taurus constellation. On January 3, Venus is also set to appear in the sky, and this time Venus will reach its maximum separation from the Sun making the evening star visible to the naked eye.
On January 4, Saturn will also be visible. Astrophysicists, Astrophotographers, and even stargazers are happy to see these events unfold in the night sky and they are ready to witness this parade of planets.
During the night of January 13, the Moon will pass in front of Mars, temporarily obscuring it from view.
Over the next couple of days in January, four planets—Venus, Saturn, Jupiter, and Mars—will be prominently visible shortly after sunset. As Mars reaches its opposition on January 15-16, it will be at its brightest and closest to Earth since 2022. On January 15, Mars will rise in the east as the sun sets in the west, remaining visible throughout the night. This opposition brings Mars closest to Earth, making it appear particularly bright and reddish in the night sky.
After Mars and Venus, Jupiter and Saturn are to appear near Earth on January 18 and 19 and the planets are likely to be visible to the naked eye.
