Quadrantid meteor shower to peak amid bitter cold

If skies clear of clouds and snow before dawn early Friday, there's a chance the Quadrantid meteor shower could be visible over Maryland.

The shower reaches its peak for only a matter of hours, and it could arrive during the afternoon here. "But the predictions aren't always accurate," writes Bruce McClure of EarthSky.org. "This is nature, after all."

If the peak does occur during night hours here, as many as 50-100 meteors could be visible. But even if it doesn't, you might be able to spot a meteor or two in the hours before dawn Friday.

The Quadrantids are technically one of the year's more minor meteor showers, in part because the window of the shower's peak is so narrow. But there is still the potential to see a good show -- just be sure to bundle up.