How to watch the Quadrantid meteor shower as it peaks this weekend
· BBC WeatherMatt Taylor
Lead Weather Presenter
Stargazers are in for a New Year treat as the first meteor shower of 2025 graces our night sky this month.
If you have already found yourself looking upwards over the past few nights you might have been lucky enough to have spotted some of the Quadrantid meteors shoot across the sky.
This shower is set to peak on Friday and Saturday but has been visible since 26 December and will continue until 12 January.
According to Royal Museums Greenwich, external, it is "one of the strongest and most consistent meteor showers of the year".
When and how can I view the Quadrantids?
The good news is that you do not need any specialist equipment for a chance to spot the meteors, but you may need a little patience.
First of all, given it is winter, make sure you are wrapped up well from the elements and keep warm. Get yourself comfortable in a garden chair or sun lounger, in as dark an area as possible, and allow your eyes a good 15 to 20 minutes to adjust.
The meteors may be visible just about anywhere in the sky, but are best viewed around two thirds of the way above the horizon, where the atmosphere is thinner.
The point in the sky from which the meteors appear to originate is known as the radiant and the quality of the display is measured by how many meteors are visible every hour - known as the zenithal hourly rate.
The radiant for the Quadrantids is in the former constellation of Quadrans Muralis - hence the shower's name - close to the Plough. The zenithal hourly rate could be close to 120 meteors per hour, though this peak lasts only a couple of hours.
Luckily, around the peak viewing days a waxing moon sets during the evening and so reduces the prospect of extra light pollution spoiling the event.
Weather forecast: Will skies be clear to see the Quadrantids?
As with any celestial event clear skies are crucial to our enjoyment of them.
After a cloud-laden Christmas period the forecast over the next few nights is a bit more promising.
Many parts of the UK will enjoy some clearer periods on Friday night. It will turn cloudy towards the west and later across the south of England with freezing fog developing as the winds lighten. The clearest skies are likely to be across the eastern half of the UK and for the first half of the night across southern Wales and England.
Wherever you are attempting to view the sky be prepared to dress for much colder conditions. Arctic air that will sit across the UK may mean better viewing conditions, but it also comes with a marked chill.
Check your latest forecast here or on the BBC Weather app.