Quadrantids 2026: the moon at peak

Jan 3, 2026, 12:48 UTC · Calculated July 26, 2026

100% Poor — a bright moon washes out all but the brightest meteors.

Peak and moon conditions

Peak (UTC)

Jan 3, 2026, 12:48 UTC

Illumination

100%

Full moon

Peak rate (ZHR)

~80/hour

Radiant

Boötes

Active period

Dec 28 – Jan 12

Peak night by city

For each city: the local time of the peak, and how much of that night is both astronomically dark and free of moonlight.

City	Peak (local time)	Astronomical darkness	Moon-free darkness	Moonrise	Moonset	Rating
Seoul	Sat, Jan 3 21:48	11.2 h	None	17:00	08:38 (+1)	Poor
Tokyo	Sat, Jan 3 21:48	11.2 h	None	16:14	07:39 (+1)	Poor
New York	Sat, Jan 3 07:48	11.4 h	None	15:39	07:51 (+1)	Poor
Los Angeles	Sat, Jan 3 04:48	11.1 h	None	16:10	07:31 (+1)	Poor
London	Sat, Jan 3 12:48	11.9 h	None	15:47	09:20 (+1)	Poor
Madrid	Sat, Jan 3 13:48	11.4 h	None	18:00	09:47 (+1)	Poor
Sydney	Sat, Jan 3 23:48	6.2 h	None	20:21	06:06 (+1)	Poor
São Paulo	Sat, Jan 3 09:48	7.6 h	None	18:34	05:15 (+1)	Poor

Why the moon decides a meteor shower

Meteor rates quoted as ZHR assume a perfectly dark sky with the radiant overhead. Real counts fall off fast with sky brightness, and the moon is the one source of sky brightness that is completely predictable years ahead. A full moon near the peak can cut visible meteors by three quarters even under a cloudless sky. That is why the useful question is not “when is the peak” but “where is the moon at the peak” — which is what this page computes.

Other years

Other meteor showers

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