Star-gazers beware - the first meteor shower of 2019 is almost upon us.

The Quadrantid meteor shower has been known to produce some 50-100 meteors in a dark sky, but you need to keep your eyes out if you're going to spot this one.

According to, Somerset and the UK has a better chance of seeing it as we are based in the northern hemisphere.

Here is everything you need to know about the Quadrantid meteor shower.

When is it?

You can expect to see the meteor shower Between January 3 and January 4.

It is likely to pass overhead between the late night on January 3 and early morning on January 4, so be ready for a late night if you want to see it.

The peak of the meteor shower only lasts a few hours and it is likely that the peak will land pre-dawn on January 4.

What is it?

The Quadrantid is the first meteor shower of 2019.

You could see between 50-100 meteors in the sky and it is thought that the sky will be relatively clear on the night.

You are most likely to spot the shower near the Big Dipper constellation.

The meteor shower will be visible near the Big Dipper constellation
The meteor shower will be visible near the Big Dipper constellation

Where is the best place to see it?

You won't need specialist equipment to see this one as the stars will be visible to the naked eye.

It is better to get outside 20 minutes before the show.

Europe has a better chance of seeing the meteor shower, so make sure to prepare for this one!

Where do the Quadrantids come from?

According to Birmingham Live, it's believed the Quadrantids are created from dust left behind by an asteroid called 2003 EH1.

This asteroid is thought to have once been a comet, which has now shed all of its ice and other debris and is just a big lump of solid rock.


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The shooting stars travel at 41km per second.

They appear to radiate outwards from Bootes, so it's better to look north in the direction of that constellation but the shooting stars can be seen anywhere in the night sky.

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