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(CNN) -
The new year begins with the Quadrantid meteor shower, which will peak overnight from Sunday to Monday.
The Quadrantid is regularly one of the most intense meteor showers of the year.
Fortunately, being in the waxing phase, the Moon will be practically invisible at night, allowing maximum visibility for meteors.
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However, this shower is notoriously difficult to observe due to the harsh January weather and its short peak of only about six hours.
It will be best viewed in the Northern Hemisphere between the hours of Sunday night and early Monday, according to the American Meteor Society.
Quadrantids: short but intense peak
The International Meteor Organization predicts that the peak will occur around 8:40 p.m. universal time on January 3, and will be most visible to countries in East Asia.
At higher latitude locations across Europe, you will also be able to see some of the meteor activity, according to the American Meteor Society.
Quadrantids are not usually visible in the southern hemisphere because the radiant point of the rain does not rise very high in the sky before sunrise.
In Time and Date you can check your chances of seeing the rain, or go out and see for yourself.
Virtual Telescope Project will also have a live broadcast of the rain over Rome.
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Usually between 50 and 100 meteors are visible per hour, especially in rural areas, although the peak can include up to 120 visible meteors in an hour.
Look up at the northeastern sky.
You might even catch a glimpse of some fireballs during the meteor shower.
The American Meteor Society advises that you look up at the sky for at least an hour.
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Uncommon origin
If the name of this meteor shower sounds strange to you, it's probably because it doesn't sound like it's related to a constellation, like other similar phenomena.
That's because the eponymous constellation Quadrantids no longer exists, at least not as a recognized constellation.
The constellation Quadrans Muralis, first observed and noted in 1795 between Boötes and Draco, is no longer included in the International Astronomical Union's list of modern constellations because it is considered obsolete.
The meteor shower radiates between Ursa Major and the constellation Bootes, also known as El Boyero.
Like the Geminid meteor shower, the Quadrantid meteor shower comes from a mysterious asteroid or "rock comet" rather than an icy comet, which is unusual.
This particular asteroid is 2003 EH1, which takes 5.52 years to complete one orbit around the sun.
The peak of the rain is short because only a small stream of particles interacts with our atmosphere and the stream occurs at a perpendicular angle.
Every year, the Earth traverses this debris trail for a short period of time.
How to observe the meteor shower
If you live in an urban area, you will want to drive somewhere that is not filled with obstructing city lights.
If you can find an area that is not affected by light pollution, meteors could be visible every two minutes from night to sunrise.
Find an open area with a wide view of the sky, and don't forget to bundle up.
Make sure to bring a chair or blanket so you can look up.
And give your eyes 20-30 minutes to adjust to the dark, without looking at your phone, so meteors are easier to spot.
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