The first meteor shower of 2024 is tonight — here’s how to get the best view

Shower in the new year early Thursday morning by watching the first wave of space rocks astonishingly pass the Earth for 2024.

The Quadrantids meteor shower will be peaking overnight as up to 200 space rocks — known for their enhanced “fireball” brightness — can be seen per hour under ideal conditions, according to NASA.

Be sure to get your gander in the evening as the space agency warns that this awe-inspiring show’s height — it has been active since late December — will expire quickly after Thursday. This is due to its angle towards the Earth and because of its thin particle stream.

Here are some tips on how to get the best views.

How to watch the Quadrantids shower

NASA reports that the northern hemisphere will be in the best position of visibility for the show and that they will be most apparent during night and pre-dawn.

The American Meteor Society predicts a six-hour, overnight window that they will be most prevalent for the Quadrantids, which stem from a 2003 discovered asteroid.

North America’s best time frame is from 1 a.m. to 5 a.m. and viewers should turn towards the big dipper, according to EarthSky.org.

It’s best to seek out an area far from city lights and allow at least a half hour for your eyes to properly adjust to darkness.

Bringing a sleeping bag, blanket, or a lawn chair is also advised for comfort.

Our moon’s brightness might cause a visibility obstruction, but the AMS says this can commonly be overcome by angling the orbital object out behind either a tree or building.