The first meteor shower of the century arrives on January 4
Last updated 2026-09-25 — To celebrate the 100th anniversary of the founding of Taiwan, people were treated to the first “heavenly” gift of the year in the first few days of January — the Quadrantid meteor shower. As one of the three major annual meteor showers, this year’s event coincides with a new moon, promising numerous and bright meteors...
To celebrate the 100th anniversary of the founding of Taiwan, people were treated to the first “heavenly” gift of the year in the first few days of January — the Quadrantid meteor shower. As one of the three major annual meteor showers, this year’s event coincides with a new moon, promising numerous and bright meteors. The best viewing time will be during the “second half of the night,” from after midnight on January 4 until dawn.
Head to Maokong at night for tea and chat before watching the meteor shower.
The International Meteor Organization (IMO) predicts that the first celestial event of the centennial year — the Quadrantid meteor shower — will peak on the morning of January 4 at 9:10 AM, with a ZHR (Zenithal Hourly Rate) of 60 to 200 meteors, averaging around 120. The radiant point of this meteor shower is located in the head of the constellation Boötes, rising in the northeast around 12:10 AM. Therefore, the optimal viewing time in Taiwan will be from after midnight on January 4 until dawn.
The open grounds of Qingshuiyan are a great spot for meteor shower viewing.
These meteors travel at a medium speed (41 kilometers per second), and their numbers are very concentrated, so after the radiant point rises in the early hours of January 4, the meteor count will suddenly surge as dawn approaches. People can choose locations with wide, unobstructed views and no light pollution for viewing. Due to the large temperature difference between day and night in winter, remember to dress warmly.
Taipei Astronomical Museum - “Celestial Forecast”: http://tamweb.tam.gov.tw/bew/TW/list.asp?mtype=c1
Click to view 【Three Sisters Rock and Echo Point w??ā烤暗憬樯芗/p>
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