Ursids Meteor Shower

About

The Ursids are a strictly northern hemisphere shower, invisible from the southern tropics. They peak just before Christmas and are produced by comet 8P/Tuttle. While modest at 5–10/hour normally, they have surprised observers with rare outbursts exceeding 25 meteors/hour. Where to Look: Radiate from near Polaris (the North Star) in the constellation Ursa Minor — the Little Dipper. Because the radiant is near the North Pole, it never sets for northern observers, meaning you can watch all night. Best rates come in the late-night and pre-dawn hours on the shortest nights of the year. Fun Facts: The Ursids are the last major shower of the calendar year, peaking right before Christmas. Because they peak so close to the winter solstice, they overlap with the shortest nights of the year in the northern hemisphere. Outbursts are unpredictable but have occurred in years when comet 8P/Tuttle was near perihelion — worth checking each year. Moon Conditions: 🌙 Crescent — good conditions