The year's first meteor shower and supermoon to overlap in the sky
Summary
In early January, the first supermoon of the year will occur at the same time as the Quadrantid meteor shower. However, the brightness from the supermoon may reduce the number of meteors that can be seen. The Quadrantid meteor shower can usually show around 25 meteors per hour, but the strong moonlight is expected to lower this number.Key Facts
- The Quadrantid meteor shower peaks on Friday night into Saturday morning.
- In dark skies, the shower usually produces about 25 meteors per hour.
- This year, less than 10 meteors per hour might be visible because of the supermoon.
- A supermoon occurs when a full moon is closer to Earth, appearing larger and brighter.
- Supermoons appear up to 14% bigger and 30% brighter than the faintest moon.
- Both the supermoon and the Quadrantids can be seen without special equipment.
- The Quadrantids are best viewed from the Northern Hemisphere.
- The next major meteor shower, called the Lyrids, will happen in April.
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