Right at the beginning of the new year 2026, sky observers and amateur radio operators will experience one of the most interesting meteor showers - Quadrantids. Although this is a shower with a very short maximum, its yield is among the highest of the year and under favorable circumstances can offer a truly exceptional experience - whether during visual observation or during amateur radio meteor scatter connections.
Basic characteristics of Quadrantids
The meteor shower Quadrantids is active approximately from December 28 to January 12, with the maximum activity traditionally appearing around January 3 to 4.. For the year 2026 the maximum is predicted in the range 21:00 – 00:00 UTC on the night of January 3 to 4.
Typical value ZHR (zenithal hourly rate) at the maximum reaches up to 110 meteors per hour, making the Quadrantids among the strongest swarms of the year - comparable, for example, to the Perseids or Geminids. However, their weakness is the fact that the main maximum lasts only about 6 hours.
The Quadrantid meteors are predominantly larger particles, which enter the atmosphere at a speed of approximately 41.5 km/s.. This means relatively bright, fast meteors, suitable not only for observation, but also for radio reflections.
Unusual origin of the shower
Unlike most meteor showers, which originate from comets, the Quadrantids likely come from asteroid 2003 EH1. This object orbits the Sun once every 5.52 years and astronomers believe it is either a "dead comet", or an interesting transient object called "rock comet" – a rocky comet.
The short and intense peak of the shower is caused by the fact that the stream of particles is very narrow and the Earth passes through it almost perpendicularly, so the dense part of the meteor stream is passed through very quickly. Outside of the peak, the activity of the shower is significantly lower.
Radiant and observation conditions
The Quadrantids are named after the now-defunct constellation Quadrans Muralis (Wall Quadrant). The radiant is now located in the area of the constellation Herdsman (Boötes).
For observers in the northern hemisphere, the situation is specific:
the radiant is in the evening low above the northwest horizon, activity is minimal,
during the night it moves below the northern celestial pole,
the best conditions occur after 02:00 local time, when the radiant rises to the northeastern part of the sky.
Observers south of 40° north latitude have worse conditions as the radiant only gets low above the horizon. In the southern hemisphere, the activity of the Quadrantids is practically negligible.
Impact of the Moon in 2026
However, the year 2026 will bring a significant disruptive factor: the full moon occurs on January 3.. Bright moonlight will significantly limit the visibility of weaker meteors, which make up the majority of the shower.
Real observable counts of meteors are therefore estimated to be approximately:
Asia: 10–20 meteors per hour
Europe: around 10 meteors per hour
North America: less than 10 meteors per hour
Nevertheless, it is an interesting shower, especially in the case of brighter meteors and bolides.
Tools for visual observation
A very useful tool for planning observations is the interactive animation available at: https://www.timeanddate.com/astronomy/meteor-shower/quadrantids.html
This page allows you to accurately determine the location of the radiant, peak times, and visibility for a specific location.
Quadrantids 2026 and meteor scatter for amateur radio operators
For amateur radio operators, the Quadrantids are particularly interesting from the perspective of meteor scatter (MS) connections, especially on the bands 50 MHz, 70 MHz, and 144 MHz.
Basic rules for effective MS connection:
the most reflections occur when the meteor trail is perpendicular to the line between the stations,
ideal the elevation of the radiant is around 45°,
precise time synchronization and appropriately chosen antenna direction are important.
To calculate the probability and efficiency of the connection, the classic program from DL5MCG, whose first version was created back in 1986. It is still available for MS Windows: https://www.QSL.net/DL5MCG/mcg_ms.htm
This tool allows predicting optimal times for connections between specific locators, which is extremely important during the short maximum of the Quadrantids.
Conclusion
The Quadrantids 2026 will be affected by unfavorable lunar conditions, but nonetheless represent a significant astronomical and amateur radio event at the beginning of the year. Their short but intense maximum will test the readiness of observers and MS connection operators. Those who are prepared and time their observations or transmissions correctly can take away exceptionally interesting experiences from the start of the year.
Clear skies and strong reflections! 73