Quadrantid meteor shower in early January offers photo opportunities
A meteor shower will light up the night sky on January 3, 2025. However, clouds and the timing could get in the way of stargazers.
Shooting stars in the night sky offer a wonderful enrichment for nocturnal motifs.
(Image: Christine Bruns / Bearbeitung: Christine Bruns)
The impressive Quadrantid meteor shower reaches its peak from January 3rd to 4th. Under optimal conditions, up to 100 shooting stars per hour are visible around the peak of the shower (4 pm, plus/minus two hours). The Quadrantid meteor stream is one of the four most active of the year and radiates from the north-eastern part of the constellation of Bootes.
The best observation time is as early as possible on January 3 to experience the maximum, as this is around four o'clock in the afternoon, i.e. before sunset. Moonlight also plays a decisive role in the observation. During this year's shower 2025, the moon is hardly a hindrance, as it emits little light in its narrow crescent shape and sets at around 8:30 pm, which offers ideal conditions for the spectacle, as the shooting stars often have a bluish glow and are not particularly bright.
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No technical aids are required for observation, but the sky should be cloudless and the surrounding area should be as free of light pollution as possible. However, the German Weather Service expects thick clouds and snow in many places in Germany. Warm clothing, a blanket and hot drinks are also advisable. Photographers can also capture the event well. Bastian Werner explains how to photograph shooting stars in his article on the Perseids.
(cbr)
