The Quadrantids is a strong and consistent northern shower. They are difficult for southern observers, with the radiant below the early morning north-eastern horizon. If observing before dawn, you may glimpse an occasional long-pathed member on the morning of the 4th.
The Quadrantids are active from January 1-5, with up to 40 meteors per hour at their peak. With New Moon on the 3rd, there will be no lunar interference.
The shower owes its name to the now-defunct constellation Quadrans Muralis. The constellation was left off a list of constellations drawn out by the International Astronomical Union (IAU) in 1922, but because the shower had already been named after Quadrans Muralis, its name was not changed.
The Quadrantids is also sometimes called Bootids after the modern constellation, Boötes. The Quadrantids are associated with asteroid 2003 EH1.
The asteroid takes about 5.5 years to orbit around the Sun. This is not the best viewing from the Southern Hemisphere as the radiant is below the horizon but you can see some long bright ones if you are our about 5am.
Clear skies!
Donna