Clear skies mean cold temperatures during an Alaska winter but Friday night, they also mean a chance to see the Quadrantid meteor shower.

The Quadrantids are visible from December 28 through January 12 but they peak on the night of January 3-4, which is tonight (Friday). Prime viewing time is between 2 a.m. – after the moon sets – and 6 a.m. when the Boötes constellation drops below the horizon.

All of Alaska has excellent viewing opportunities...depending on the weather.

The best way to view the Quadrantids is to dress properly for cold weather then get away from light pollution. Though meteors radiate from the Boötes constellation which is near the handle of the Big Dipper, the best way to see the meteors is to take in as much sky as possible as they will appear all over the sky. This often means lying on your back and staring up at the sky. It can take a while for your eyes to adjust to the darkness, so give it a little time.

The Quadrantids meteor shower occurs when the Earth passes through the dust and debris left behind by the Asteroid 2003 EH1. When those bits of dust and rock hit Earth’s atmosphere, they disintegrate and create the bright “falling stars” that are visible from the ground.

The Quadrantids are named after the original constellation they appeared to radiate from—Quadrans Muralis. According to NASA, “when the International Astronomical Union (IAU) created a list of recognized modern constellations in 1922, Quadrans Muralis was left off the list.”