The First Meteor Shower of 2021 Is Happening on New Year’s Weekend

According to NASA, “An alternative name for the Quadrantids is the Bootids since the meteors appear to radiate from the modern constellation of Bootes. Even though the constellation may no longer be recognized, it was considered a constellation long enough to give the meteor shower its name.”

From Saturday night to Sunday morning this weekend, there’s a possibility of spotting between 60 and 200 meteors per hour traveling 25 miles per second. This shower, which lasts for approximately six hours, is known for its bright fireball meteors, which are larger explosions of light that last longer than typical meteors. The best chance to view the shower’s peak in the US will be on Sunday morning (around 9:30 AM ET or 6:30 AM PT).

The Quadrantid shower has the potential to be the brightest meteor shower of the year.