When is the Quadrantid meteor shower 2027?
The Quadrantids peak on January 4, 2027
Peak Jan 4, 03:25 UT. ZHR 80 (60–200), Moon 12% lit at the peak. From New York, the best window is 1:50 am–6:20 am on the night of Sunday, January 3–4. Pick your city for its own times.
Best time to watch
computed for each cityAt 5:00 am the radiant in Boötes is 54° up; the radiant rises at 8:50 pm. Thin Moon (12% lit) rises 5:10 am. Dark sky 5:50 pm–6:20 am.
| Night | Best time | Meteors per hour* |
|---|---|---|
| Fri, Jan 1–2 | 5:00 am–6:20 am | under 1 |
| Sat, Jan 2–3 | 4:20 am–6:20 am | 9 |
| Sun, Jan 3–4 peak | 1:50 am–6:20 am | 30 |
| Mon, Jan 4–5 | 1:50 am–6:20 am | 2 |
| Tue, Jan 5–6 | 1:50 am–6:20 am | under 1 |
* Estimated meteors per hour at the best time from a dark site under a clear sky (ZHR × radiant height × Moon). From a town expect a third or less. Rates vary from year to year; weather is not forecast.
City by city
The best night and window for the Quadrantids in our biggest cities, local time.
| City | Best night | Best time (local) | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York | Sun, Jan 3–4 | 1:50 am–6:20 am | 30 |
| Los Angeles | Sun, Jan 3–4 | 2:20 am–6:10 am | 20 |
| Chicago | Sun, Jan 3–4 | 1:40 am–6:20 am | 25 |
| Houston | Sun, Jan 3–4 | 3:10 am–6:30 am | 25 |
| Phoenix | Sun, Jan 3–4 | 3:00 am–6:40 am | 20 |
| Philadelphia | Sun, Jan 3–4 | 2:00 am–6:20 am | 30 |
| Jacksonville | Sun, Jan 3–4 | 3:10 am–6:30 am | 25 |
| Columbus | Sun, Jan 3–4 | 2:30 am–6:50 am | 30 |
| Charlotte | Sun, Jan 3–4 | 2:50 am–6:40 am | 25 |
| Indianapolis | Sun, Jan 3–4 | 2:50 am–7:10 am | 25 |
| Seattle | Sun, Jan 3–4 | 1:10 am–6:50 am | 20 |
| Denver | Sun, Jan 3–4 | 2:00 am–6:20 am | 25 |
| London | Sun 3–4 Jan | 2:30 am–6:50 am | 60 |
| Birmingham | Sun 3–4 Jan | 2:30 am–7:00 am | 60 |
| Glasgow | Sun 3–4 Jan | 2:30 am–7:20 am | 60 |
| Manchester | Sun 3–4 Jan | 2:30 am–7:00 am | 60 |
| Toronto | Sun, Jan 3–4 | 1:50 am–6:50 am | 30 |
| Montréal | Sun, Jan 3–4 | 1:20 am–6:30 am | 30 |
| Calgary | Sun, Jan 3–4 | 2:00 am–8:20 am | 25 |
| Ottawa | Sun, Jan 3–4 | 1:30 am–6:40 am | 30 |
| Sydney | Sat 2–3 Jan | Radiant below the horizon | – |
| Melbourne | Sat 2–3 Jan | Radiant below the horizon | – |
| Brisbane | Sat 2–3 Jan | Radiant below the horizon | – |
| Perth | Fri 1–2 Jan | Radiant below the horizon | – |
| Dublin | Sun 3–4 Jan | 2:30 am–7:20 am | 50 |
| Auckland | Sat 2–3 Jan | Radiant below the horizon | – |
* Estimated meteors per hour at the best time from a dark site under a clear sky (ZHR × radiant height × Moon). From a town expect a third or less. Rates vary from year to year; weather is not forecast.
About the Quadrantids
The Quadrantids have one of the sharpest peaks of any major shower: the high rates last only a few hours. The radiant in northern Boötes (the old constellation Quadrans Muralis gave the name) rises high only after midnight, so the best time is the last hours before dawn, when the peak falls at night for you.
IMO: maximum January 4, 03:25 UT, ZHR 80 but variable (about 60–200), peak timing uncertain by about 2.5 hours. Conditions are perfect: the peak comes shortly before New Moon. Vaubaillon notes the stream is slightly shifted toward the Sun in 2027, which might cause enhanced activity.
Parent body: asteroid 2003 EH1. Active Dec 28–Jan 12. Radiant in Boötes; northern hemisphere.
How to watch
- Get dark. Away from street lights the count can triple.
- Lie back and look about halfway up, toward the darkest part of the sky. You do not need to face the radiant.
- Give it time. Meteors come in clumps; watch for at least 30–60 minutes after your eyes adapt.
- Check the clouds with your local forecast: we do not forecast weather.
Questions
When is the Quadrantid meteor shower 2027?
The Quadrantids are active Dec 28–Jan 12, with the peak Jan 4, 03:25 UT (International Meteor Organization). The best night for you depends on where the peak falls in your local night; the city picker on this page works it out.
What time is best to see the Quadrantids?
From New York, 1:50 am–6:20 am on the night of Sunday, January 3–4, when the radiant is 54° up. In general, when the radiant is highest in a dark sky, which for most showers is after midnight.
How many Quadrantids will I see per hour?
The IMO lists a ZHR of 80 (60–200): the rate under a perfect sky with the radiant overhead. From a dark site near New York at the best time, expect about 30 an hour; from a town, a third or less. These are estimates: real rates vary.
Will the Moon affect the Quadrantids?
The Moon is 12% lit at the peak. That is little interference.
Where should I look for the Quadrantids?
Anywhere: meteors appear all over the sky, they only trace back to the radiant in Boötes. Look about halfway up, away from the Moon and city lights, and give your eyes 20 minutes to adapt.
Other meteor showers
Dates, peak times, ZHR and radiant positions: International Meteor Organization, Meteor Shower Calendar 2026 and 2027 (J. Rendtel, ed.), working list of visual meteor showers. Where the IMO gives no peak time, it is the moment the Sun reaches the listed solar longitude. Darkness, Moon and radiant height computed with Skyfield and JPL DE440. Hourly rates are our estimates from the ZHR and are uncertain; real rates vary from year to year. We do not forecast clouds.