Sky Showdown: Supermoon vs. Meteor Shower in January

Supermoon and Meteor Shower Collide

January skies are set for a celestial showdown. A supermoon and a meteor shower are happening at the same time. But the bright moon might make it hard to see the shooting stars.

The Quadrantid Meteor Shower

The Quadrantid meteor shower is expected to peak late Friday into early Saturday. Usually, people can see about 25 meteors per hour in dark skies. But this time, the supermoon's light might reduce that number to less than 10 per hour.

What is a Meteor Shower?

Meteor showers occur when space rocks crash into Earth's atmosphere. They burn up and leave bright trails. These events are predictable and happen yearly when Earth passes through cosmic debris.

The Supermoon Phenomenon

Supermoons happen when a full moon is closer to Earth. They can look up to 14% bigger and 30% brighter than the faintest moon of the year. But this difference is hard to notice without special tools.

Viewing Tips

The Quadrantid meteor shower is best seen in the Northern Hemisphere. Both the meteor shower and the supermoon can be seen without any special equipment.

To spot the Quadrantids, go out early in the evening away from city lights. Look for fireballs before the moon gets too bright. You can also try looking during the early dawn hours on Sunday.

• Wait for your eyes to adjust to the darkness.
• Avoid looking at your phone.
• The meteors will look like fast-moving white dots across the sky.

Naming and Future Events

Meteor showers get their names from the constellation where the meteors seem to come from. The Quadrantids are named after a constellation that is no longer recognized.

The next big meteor shower, the Lyrids, is expected in April. Supermoons happen a few times a year. The January supermoon ends a four-month streak that started in October. There won't be another supermoon until the end of 2026.