Quadrantids 2027: peak date, best time and where to look
The Quadrantids peak on January 4, 2027. Here is when to watch, where to look and how the Moon affects the show.
| Peak | January 4, 2027 |
|---|---|
| Best night | the night of January 3–4 |
| Active | December 28 – January 12 |
| Rate (ideal dark sky) | about 110 per hour (ZHR) |
| Parent body | asteroid 2003 EH1 |
| Speed | 41 km/s; the peak is short — only a few hours |
| Radiant | RA 15.3h, Dec +49° |
Moonlight in 2027
A thin crescent Moon (about 13% lit) rises shortly before dawn and has little effect.
Where and when to look
A Northern Hemisphere shower. The radiant (near the Big Dipper's handle) is highest in the hours before dawn — that is the time to watch.
Meteors appear all over the sky, streaking away from the radiant. You will see the most when the radiant is high and the sky is dark, so look about 40–60° away from the radiant, wherever the sky is darkest. Give your eyes 15–20 minutes to adapt and avoid looking at a bright phone screen.
Highest altitude of the radiant
| Location | Radiant's highest altitude |
|---|---|
| London / New York / Tokyo (≈40–51°N) | 86° |
| Los Angeles / Cairo (≈30–34°N) | 73° |
| Singapore (1°N) | 42° |
| Sydney / Cape Town (≈34°S) | 7° |
See the Quadrantids radiant over your own horizon on the peak night.
Simulate the meteor shower in 3D →