The spectacular meteor shower is expected to peak tonight
What time is the meteor shower tonight?(Image: Danny Lawson/PA Wire)
It is the second chance stargazers will be able to catch a glimpse of shooting stars across UK skies tonight. The spectacle in the sky will show up to 50 shooting stars per hour, in what is considered to be “one of the best annual meteor showers” of the year.
According to the Royal Astronomical Society, the Quadrantid meteor show will peak tonight, January 3 either first thing in the morning before dawn or in the evening after sunset. Most meteor showers have a two-day peak, which makes catching sight of these other meteors much more possible.
The only caveat is that it has a “really sharp peak over a few hours”, according to the Royal Astronomical Society’s deputy director Dr Robert Massey, which means the rates will be a bit lower than when the shower is at its most active at 15:00 GMT on 3 January.
In a video explaining what the Quadrantids are and how best to see them, he said: “They have a pretty strong intensity if you happen to be in the right place at the right time. If you’re on the west coast of the US, or in the Pacific region, you could see maybe 70 or 80 an hour. If you’re in the UK you’re going to see somewhat fewer than that. But it’s still a strong shower.”
He added: “The great advantage this year is that the moon isn’t interfering with it, so you haven’t got a full moon in the sky – it’s a very thin crescent – [which] means the light will not be a big problem.”
Where and when is best to watch the meteor shower?
The best thing to do, Dr Massey said, is to get as far away from light pollution as possible. He said: “They won’t be the brightest meteors on the whole, but [the Quadrantids] do include a fair number of fireballs.”
“A fireball is a dramatic sounding thing but what it really means is a really bright meteor. The Quadrantids is a meteor shower which produces that kind of event. So for that reason alone, if you have the time to look out and the weather is good, then do take a look because it’s a perfect New Year treat.”
Unlike many astronomical events, meteor showers are easy to watch and no special equipment is needed. A meteor shower is best observed with the naked eye, and a reclining chair, a warm blanket and a hot drink make viewing much more comfortable on a cold January night.