Meteors, or shooting stars, are matakōkiri, tūmatakōkiri, kōtiri and kōtiritiri. They have been interpreted in several ways – they were thought to convey fire to Earth, or to be stars that the sun or moon had struck down. Bright meteors were taken as a good omen, indicating future action. Duller ones were bad omens. Meteors also augured the death of great leaders and the rise of new ones.

The Quadrantids meteor shower is an above-average event, featuring up to 40 meteors per hour at its peak. It is believed to be caused by dust particles left by an extinct comet, known as 2003 EH1, which was discovered in 2003. This shower occurs annually from January 1–5, with its peak this year on the night of January 3 and the morning of January 4. With the crescent moon setting early in the evening, the skies will be dark, creating excellent conditions for viewing. For the best experience, find a dark location and watch after midnight. While the meteors will appear to radiate from the constellation Boötes, they can be seen across the sky.