Howl at the Sky: January’s Full Wolf Supermoon Meets the Quadrantid Meteor Shower

The Night Sky’s Double-Header

On the first two nights of 2024, the heavens will throw a quiet but unforgettable party. A full wolf supermoon—our closest full moon of the year—will rise just as the Quadrantid meteor shower peaks, giving sky-watchers a rare celestial duet.

What Makes This Moon ‘Super’

Supermoons occur when the moon’s elliptical orbit brings it within 90 percent of its nearest approach to Earth. This month, our satellite will swing to 221,000 miles away, making it appear up to 14 percent wider and 30 percent brighter than the smallest full moons. Native tribes across North America dubbed January’s full orb the “wolf moon” because hungry packs howled outside winter villages.

The Quadrantids: A Brief but Fiery Show

While the moon bathes the landscape in silver, up to 120 meteors an hour could streak across the sky. The Quadrantids—named for a now-defunct constellation—peak during a narrow six-hour window the night of January 3–4. Their bluish-green fireballs, created by asteroid 2003 EH1, often leave glowing trails that linger for seconds.

“If you can escape city lights, you’ll see nature’s own fireworks,” said Dr. Maya Ortiz, an astronomer at Lowell Observatory. “Bundle up, lie back, and let the cosmos come to you.”

Best Viewing Tips

• Head out after 2 a.m. local time, when the radiant climbs highest.
• Face northeast, but scan the whole sky—Quadrantids shoot in every direction.
• Use the moon to your advantage: let it illuminate foreground trees for dramatic photos, then shift your gaze 30–40 degrees away to catch meteors.
• Dress in layers; January nights average 20 °F across the Lower 48.

When to Look Again

If clouds spoil the show, the next comparable supermoon won’t arrive until September 2024, and the Quadrantids won’t peak again until this time next year. Mark your calendars—or simply step outside tonight and howl along.