Quadrantid meteor shower remains visible in the UK until January 12

The Quadrantid meteor shower peaked on January 4 but is expected to remain active until January 12, and is most visible after midnight under dark skies; a full Moon at the peak will reduce visibility.

The Quadrantid meteor shower is currently active after peaking on January 4. Dr Shyam Balaji of King's College London said the shower can produce many meteors per hour under dark skies, but the peak phase is brief. He reported the stream comes from debris linked to near‑Earth asteroid 2003 EH1 and that the radiant lies near the constellation Boötes. The shower is expected to remain active until Monday, January 12. Key details: - Active period: peaked January 4 and reported active through January 12. - Typical rates: often 60 to 120 meteors per hour in dark skies, with a brief peak lasting only a few hours. - Origin: dust and debris associated with near‑Earth asteroid or extinct comet 2003 EH1. - Visibility: most likely after midnight and before dawn when the radiant near Boötes is highest; meteors can be seen with the naked eye. - Moon interference: in 2026 the shower's maximum occurs when the Moon is full, so moonlight will reduce visibility at the peak. Summary: Opportunities to see the Quadrantids depend on local weather and sky conditions, as the shower’s peak is short. After this event, an annular solar eclipse is expected on February 17 and will produce a narrow "ring of fire" path across the southern Atlantic, grazing parts of Antarctica and the southern tips of South America and Africa; officials note it is unsafe to view an annular eclipse without proper solar filters, and major observatories and agencies typically provide live webcasts closer to the date.