Fireworks aren’t the only reason to admire the night sky in early January. Just a few days after the New Year’s celebrations end, the sky will be set aglow by a meteor shower - the first meteor shower of 2020, to be exact. Not only is it the first, but it’s also one of the most active celestial displays of the year, so you don’t want to miss it. Read on for all the important details.

The first meteor shower of 2020 is the Quadrantid meteor shower, and it will take place January 3rd – 4th.

It’s called the Quadrantid meteor shower because Quadrantids are the types of meteors you’ll see during the amazing celestial display.

Meteor shower dates don’t change much annually, so the Quadrantid meteor shower happens every year in early January.

Dependability isn’t the only thing that makes it easy to catch a meteor shower, though. There’s also the fact that meteor showers can be viewed from just about anywhere – a specific location doesn’t matter.

With 60 – 100 meteors visible per hour during its peak, it’s the 3rd most active display of the year, following the Geminid and Perseid meteor showers.

However, unlike the Geminid and Perseid meteor showers, which last days, the Quadrantid meteor shower lasts only a few hours!

For those of us in North America, the best time to view the meteor shower is pre-dawn, which is about an hour before morning twilight, on Saturday, January 4th.

Quadrantids tend to be a bit fainter than other meteors, but they produce explosions of light and color, making for a mesmerizing sight.

Don’t worry about digging out the binoculars – you don’t need any special equipment to view a meteor shower. In fact, the naked eye is best way to take in the spectacular show in the sky.

The only thing needed for viewing the upcoming meteor shower is clear, dark skies. Luckily, the moon will have set as the shower approaches its peak, resulting in ideal viewing conditions.

When choosing a viewing spot, you should pick a place that’s free of lights and an abundance of trees, which can block visibility.

Anyone living in a rural area should have no problem viewing the meteor shower from the comfort of their own backyard.

Can’t view the meteor shower from home? Consider taking a drive down one of the state’s many country roads.

Or, pay a visit to one of Wisconsin’s state parks or forests. The state park system has more than 5,000 campsites, so you can turn your night of celestial fun into an overnight adventure as you camp under the stars.

To view the Farmer’s Almanac 2020 Meteor Shower Calendar, click here. For more information on Wisconsin’s state parks, click here.

So, did you know about this upcoming meteor shower? Have you watched it in years past? Tell us in the comments section.