The Quadrantids meteor shower will be the first to take place in 2022 and its display is recognised as one of the most prolific for stargazers to catch a sight of. Below is a full guide about the Quadrantids meteor shower and how you can watch this year’s edition take place.

       This year the shower will peak tonight - January 3 - at around 8.40pm GMT.

       Usually the shower is considered to be one of the strongest and most consistent meteor showers to take place within the calendar year.

       On a clear night the Quadrantids display can reach a maximum rate of 120 meteors per hour.

       Meteors from the Quadrantids are characterised by their sharp peaks which only last for a few hours - shorter than other meteor showers.

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       The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) says that the reason the peak is so short is “due to the shower's thin stream of particles and the fact that the Earth crosses the stream at a perpendicular angle”.

       Quadrantids are also known for their bright ‘fireball’ meteors, which appear blue in colour.

       The US space agency described them as “larger explosions of light and colour that can persist longer than an average meteor streak”.

       It added: “This is due to the fact that fireballs originate from larger particles of material. Fireballs are also brighter, with magnitudes brighter than -3 (degrees).”

       The timeframe within which the shower will peak ranges between late December and early January.

       Quadrantids look as though they radiate from the constellation Bo？tes, near the ‘Big Dipper’.

       In fact, during 2004 the astronomer, Peter Jenniskens, concluded that the parent body of the Quadrantids could be the minor planet 2003 EH1.

       The Quadrantids meteor shower can be viewed perfectly fine with your own eyes - so there’s no need to own a pair of binoculars or a telescope.

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       Instead, it’s advised that you find a safe space to watch the shower from, ideally one free of any street lights or other sources of light pollution.

       Stargazers are also recommended to position themselves in a wide-open space, where you are able to scan the night sky with your eyes.

       This is because the meteors can be viewed in all sections of the sky.

       Coming prepared with a comfortable chair is another top tip for avid observers as spotting meteors can be a bit of a waiting game.