The Ursid meteor shower will peak Sunday night into Monday morning and remain visible through Dec. 26 for Northern Hemisphere viewers. Expect roughly 5–10 meteors per hour at peak, with occasional outbursts up to about 25 per hour, according to the American Meteor Society. The shower originates from comet 8P/Tuttle; a thin crescent moon this year is unlikely to greatly hinder viewing. For the best experience, go to a dark site, dress warmly and avoid bright screens so your eyes can adapt.
Ursid Meteor Shower Peaks Just Before Christmas — How and When to Watch
FILE - People look up to the sky from an observatory near the village of Avren, Bulgaria, Aug. 12, 2009. (AP Photo/Petar Petrov, File)
The last major meteor shower of the year, the Ursids, is set to peak Sunday night into Monday morning, bringing brief glowing streaks to night and early-morning skies for observers across the Northern Hemisphere. Though the Ursids are usually more subdued than richer showers, experts say they are still worth watching for anyone willing to step outside and look up.
Meteor showers occur when bits of comet or asteroid debris plunge into Earth's atmosphere at high speed and burn up, producing the bright trails we call "shooting stars." Predictable annual showers occur when Earth crosses a stream of these leftover particles; the Ursids originate from comet 8P/Tuttle.
What to Expect
The Ursids are expected to peak Sunday night into Monday morning and should remain visible through Dec. 26 for observers in the Northern Hemisphere. At peak, viewers commonly see about 5–10 meteors per hour. The American Meteor Society notes occasional outbursts can briefly raise that rate to as many as 25 meteors per hour.
Visibility depends on the density of debris in the stream and the brightness of the moon. The Ursids generally contain less material than richer showers such as the Geminids, but this year a thin crescent moon should not significantly wash out the view when the shower reaches its maximum.
How To Watch
No telescope or binoculars are required — meteors appear across the whole sky and are best enjoyed with the naked eye. Dress warmly, find a dark location away from city lights, and allow your eyes about 20–30 minutes to adjust to the dark. Avoid bright phone screens and other lights after dark so fainter meteors are easier to spot.
"The darker your sky, the better the shower is going to be," said astronomer Peter Brown of Western University in Canada. Although meteors streak across the entire sky, their paths appear to radiate from a point near the constellation Ursa Minor, commonly called the Little Dipper.
With a little patience and the right conditions, the Ursids offer a pleasant, low-effort opportunity to enjoy a seasonal skywatch — a quiet celestial show just before Christmas.
