2025's first meteor shower 'Quadrantid' to light up the skies: How to watch in India?

The Quadrantid meteor shower, one of the most exciting astronomical events of 2025, will light up the night sky on 3 and 4 January. Active since 27 December, it promises a spectacular start to the New Year with meteors visible across the sky.

Unlike other meteor showers, the Quadrantids have a very brief peak, lasting only a few hours. During this peak, you could see between 60 to 200 meteors every hour, depending on weather conditions, says NASA.

This shower comes from the asteroid 2003 EH1, which is thought to be either a "dead comet" or a "rock comet." Meteors are caused when Earth passes through the space debris left by comets or asteroids, creating bright streaks in the sky.

The Quadrantids are named after a constellation that no longer exists today. The constellation, Quadrans Muralis, was introduced by French astronomer Jérôme Lalande in 1795 but is no longer listed by the International Astronomical Union.

Best Viewing Times and Places in India

While the Quadrantids will continue until 16 January, the best time to see them in India will be during the early hours of 3 and 4 January. According to Sumit Srivastava, a senior scientific officer at the Indira Gandhi Planetarium in Lucknow, you can expect to see 80 to 120 meteors per hour at the peak.

To make the experience even better, the planetarium will set up telescopes for public viewing. The best spots to watch the shower are in the Northern Hemisphere, where skies are clear and there’s less light pollution.