The Ursid meteor shower is a great way to close out the year. It will peak Sunday night into early Monday morning. If you’re observing from the Northern Hemisphere, you can catch about five to ten meteors each hour. Just look up between midnight and 5 a.m. ET, or 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. PT.
This year’s peak coincides with the winter solstice, the longest night of the year. A thin crescent moon will light the sky just enough to provide great conditions for viewing meteors. Since the radiant point—the area where the meteors appear to originate—stays low in the sky, only those in the Northern Hemisphere will see this spectacle.
The Ursids come from the constellation Ursa Minor, near the star Kochab. They happen as Earth moves through particles left by comet 8P/Tuttle. Each time the comet orbits the sun, it sheds bits of debris, creating swaths of material in space. Some years, Earth roams through these trails more closely, leading to a greater number of visible meteors.
Robert Lunsford from the American Meteor Society notes that this year’s shower might be a little more exciting due to the particular trail of debris we might encounter.
Although the Ursids aren’t as flashy as the Geminids—which peaked earlier—it’s still an event worth watching. The cold and holiday bustle might make it easy to overlook, but it offers a unique chance to enjoy a quiet moment under the stars.
For the best viewing experience, aim for a dark spot away from city lights. Lunsford suggests looking toward the northern part of the sky but not straight up—around halfway is better for spotting meteors. Giving yourself at least an hour will improve your chances of catching those streaks across the night sky.
Looking ahead, the new year will start with another cosmic event. On January 3, the “wolf moon” will rise with the Quadrantids meteor shower. However, the brightness of the full moon might overshadow some of the meteors, which typically shine as bright, slow-moving fireballs.
So bundle up, find a dark spot, and take a moment to enjoy the sky. Who knows what you might see?
For more insights on celestial events, check out resources like the American Meteor Society or NASA’s publications.
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