First meteor shower of 2015 peaks this weekend

The first meteor shower of the new year peaks this weekend. Catching a good glimpse of this oddball sky show will be tricky, however.

Prime viewing for the annual Quadrantid shower will be just a few hours before dawn Saturday or Sunday in the Northern Hemisphere -- assuming you're not under winter clouds. The West Coast, Nevada, Arizona and New England look to have the best chance of clear skies.

Complicating viewing: a nearly full moon (officially a waxing gibbous) that will obscure all but the brightest meteors.

The Quadrantids are named after a 19th-century constellation, Quadrans Muralis, that was delisted in 1922.

Less celebrated because of its short duration, the Quadrantids can produce a light show similar to the Perseids, in August, and last month's Geminids -- more than 80 meteors per hour, NASA says. Fix your gaze below the handle of the Big Dipper.

If your sky is clear and you're interested in seeing a meteor show, Earth & Sky urges, "Do it."

"Meteor shower peaks are rarely certain, and sometimes a gamble on a shower will reward you with a good show," Earth & Sky says.