Trisha Field captured this impressive fireball through clouds while photographing an aurora display at 01:47 CDT (06:47 UT) on October 2, 2025, from Richmond, Minnesota, USA. ©Trisha Field
During this period, the moon’s phase will reach its last quarter phase on Saturday January 10th. At that time, the moon will lie 90 degrees west of the sun and will rise near midnight. As the week progresses the waning moon will rise later in the morning giving the meteor observer more time to view under dark skies.
The estimated total hourly rates for evening observers this weekend should be near 2 as seen from mid-northern latitudes (45°N) and 1 as seen from tropical southern locations (25°S). For morning observers, the estimated total hourly rates should be near 16 as seen from mid-northern latitudes (45°N) and 7 as seen from tropical southern locations (25°S). Morning rates are reduced by moonlight.
The actual rates observed will also depend on factors such as personal light and motion perception, local weather conditions, alertness, and experience in watching meteor activity. Note that the hourly rates listed below are estimates based on observations from dark-sky sites away from urban light sources. Observers viewing from urban areas will see less activity, as only the brighter meteors will be visible from such locations.
The radiant (the area of the sky from which meteors appear to originate) positions and rates listed below are exact for Saturday night/Sunday morning, January 3/4. These positions do not change greatly from day to day, so the listed coordinates may be used throughout this entire period. Most star atlases (available online, in bookstores, and at planetariums) include maps with celestial coordinate grids that can help you locate these positions in the sky.
I have also included charts of the sky that display the radiant positions for evening, midnight, and morning. The center of each chart represents the sky directly overhead at the corresponding hour. These charts are oriented for facing south but can be used for any direction by rotating them accordingly. A planisphere or planetarium app is also useful for showing the sky at any time of night on any date of the year.
Activity from each radiant is best seen when it is positioned highest in the sky (culmination), either due north or south along the meridian, depending on your latitude. Radiants that rise after midnight will not reach their highest point in the sky until daylight; therefore, it is best to view them during the last few hours of the night.
It must be remembered that meteor activity is rarely seen directly at the radiant position. Rather, meteors shoot outward from the radiant, so it is best to center your field of view so that the radiant lies near the edge rather than the center. Viewing in this way allows you to trace the path of each meteor back to the radiant (if it belongs to a shower) or in another direction if it is sporadic. Meteor activity is not visible from radiants located far below the horizon.
The positions below are listed in west-to-east order by right ascension (celestial longitude). The positions listed first are located farther west and are therefore accessible earlier in the night, while those listed farther down the list rise later.
Radiant Positions at 18:00 Local Standard Time
Radiant Positions at Midnight Local Standard Time
Radiant Positions at 06:00 Local Standard Time
These sources of meteoric activity are expected to be active this week
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The large Anthelion (ANT) radiant is currently centered at 08:12 (123) +19. This position lies in western Cancer, 3 degrees southwest of the faint star known as eta Cancri. This radiant is best placed near 01:00 local standard time (LST) when it lies on the meridian and is highest in the southern sky. Rates at this time should be near 2 per hour as seen from the northern hemisphere and 1 per hour as seen from south of the equator. With an entry velocity of 30 km/sec., the average Anthelion meteor would be of medium-slow velocity.
The Comae Berenicids (COM) are a long duration shower active from December 5th through February 4th. Maximum activity occurred on December 19th. The radiant is currently located at 12:04 (181) +21, which places it in western Coma Berenices, 9 degrees northeast of the 2nd magnitude star known as Denebola (beta Leonis) These meteors would be best seen near 05:00 LST, when the radiant lies highest in the southern sky. Current rates should be near 1 per hour as seen from the northern hemisphere and less than 1 as seen south of the equator. At 64km/sec., these meteors would produce mostly swift meteors.
The gamma Ursae Minorids (GUM) are another source discovered by Dr. Peter Brown and associates. These meteors are active from January 15-25, with maximum activity occurring near January 20. The radiant is currently located at 14:44 (221) +71, which places it southern Ursa Minor, 2 degrees west of the 3rd magnitude star known as Pherkad (gamma Ursae Minoris). These meteors are best seen during the last few hours before dawn, when the radiant lies highest in a dark sky. Current rates are less than 1 per hour no matter your location. These meteors encounter the atmosphere at 71 km/sec., which would produce meteors of medium-slow velocity. These meteors are not visible from the southern hemisphere.
The Quadrantids (QUA) are active from December 26th through January 16th. Maximum occurred on January 3rd. The radiant is currently located at 15:36 (234) +48. This position lies in a barren past of northern Bootes, 5 degrees northwest of the 4th magnitude star known as phi Herculis. These meteors are best seen during the last hour before dawn when the radiant lies highest above the northeastern horizon in a dark sky. Hourly rates are expected to be less than 1 no matter your location. At 39 km/sec. the Quadrantids produce meteors of medium velocity. These meteors are visible from the southern tropics but not seen from the deep southern hemisphere.
Sporadic meteors are those that cannot be associated with any known meteor shower. All meteor showers evolve and disperse over time until they are no longer recognizable. Away from the peaks of major annual showers, these sporadic meteors make up the bulk of the activity seen each night.
As seen from the mid-northern hemisphere (45°N), one would expect to see approximately 6 sporadic meteors per hour during the last hour before dawn, from rural observing sites. Evening rates would be near 2 per hour. From tropical southern latitudes (25°S), morning rates would be around 6 per hour and 2 per hour during the evening. Locations between these two extremes would experience activity between these figures. Morning rates are affected by moonlight.
Rates and positions in the table are exact for Saturday night/Sunday morning January 10/11.
SHOWER
DATE OF MAXIMUM ACTIVITY
CELESTIAL POSITION
ENTRY VELOCITY
CULMINATION
HOURLY RATE
CLASS
RA (RA in Deg.) DEC
Km/Sec
Local Standard Time
North-South
Anthelion (ANT)
–
08:12 (123) +19
30
01:00
2 – 1
II
Comae Berenicids (COM)
Dec 23
12:04 (181) +23
64
05:00
1 – <1
II
gamma Ursid Minorids (GUM)
Jan 18
14:44 (221) +71
31
08:00
<1 – <1
IV
Quadrantids (QUA)
Jan 03
15:36 (234) +48
41
09:00
<1 – <1
I
Class Explanation: A scale to group meteor showers by their intensity:
Class I: the strongest annual showers with Zenith Hourly Rates normally ten or better.
Class II: reliable minor showers with ZHR’s normally two to ten.
Class III: showers that do not provide annual activity. These showers are rarely active yet have the potential to produce a major display on occasion.
Class IV: weak minor showers with ZHR’s rarely exceeding two. The study of these showers is best left to experienced observers who use plotting and angular velocity estimates to determine shower association. These weak showers are also good targets for video and photographic work. Observers with less experience are urged to limit their shower associations to showers with a rating of I to III.