First Meteor Shower of 2015 to Peak on January 3-4

The Quadrantids, the first meteor shower of 2015, are expected to peak on January 3 – 4. During the night and early morning hours stargazers will be able to glimpse as many as 80 meteors per hour.

MOSCOW, January 3 (Sputnik) – The first meteor shower of 2015, known as the Quadrantids, is expected to peak on January 3 – 4, according to NASA.

The meteor shower, which originates from asteroid 2003 EH1, is active from December 28, 2014, and January 12, 2015. It will boast as many as 80 meteors per hour. However, the peak activity of the Quadrantids is short-lived lasting only a few hours since the shower’s stream of particles is thin.

The Quadrantids, first observed in 1825, are famous for their bright fireball meteors. NASA describes them as "larger explosions of light and color that can persist longer than an average meteor streak."

The annual meteor shower is best viewed in the Northern Hemisphere. This year, it can best be observed from the central and Southwest US, according to the Washington Post. The Guardian reports those living in Europe and Asia have the best chance of catching the event.

#Quadrantids #meteor shower, #visible 1st — 5th #January, best view will be overnight on the 3rd #MMXV #2K15 pic.twitter.com/RaSJl8Tp17

— UK Space LABS (@UKSpaceLABS) 2 января 2015

Stargazers are advised to choose a place away from big cities to escape light pollution. "Be patient — the show will last until dawn, so you have plenty of time to catch a glimpse," said NASA.

Watch for Quadrantid meteors Saturday and Sunday before dawn! http://t.co/8QdAXu5owQ Photo: Tommy Eliassen pic.twitter.com/dcHusriOZB

— EarthSky (@earthskyscience) 2 января 2015

The meteor shower is named after the constellation of "Quadrans Muralis", created by Jerome Lalande, a French astronomer, in 1795.

Good news for stargazers! The Quadrantids meteor shower will light the sky in the early hours: http://t.co/zdHnZlr8zQ pic.twitter.com/roeFwr2kyX

— KentSussexCourier (@KSCourier) 3 января 2015

Catch a glimpse of the elusive Quadrantids meteor shower Saturday night http://t.co/HkixwT5q4M pic.twitter.com/EgZwdr8TL6

— WTOP (@WTOP) 3 января 2015