UpcomingDec 17 – Dec 26

The Ursids

Northern-only shower from comet 8P/Tuttle; modest rates.

Peak: Tuesday, December 22, 2026

Countdown to peak

238days

Peak rate

meteors per hour at peak

Velocity

km/s entering atmosphere

Radiant

Ursa Minor

Little Dipper

Best for

North

hemisphere

Radiant coordinates for Ursidsaren't catalogued in a format we can plot yet — find the area labelled Ursa Minor (Little Dipper) on any star map.

Where it comes from

Parent body

Comet 8P/Tuttle

The comet or asteroid whose dust Earth passes through each year.

First recorded

1945

Earliest documented observation.

Entry velocity

33 km/s

Speed at which meteoroids hit the atmosphere.

Radiant

Ursa Minor (Little Dipper)

The apparent point of origin — meteors streak outward from here.

Best viewing time

After midnight

When the radiant is highest above the horizon.

Hemisphere

Northern — best from Europe, N. America, Asia

Latitude bands that see the highest rates.

Overshadowed by Geminids just a week earlier. Occasional outbursts — 1945 saw 108/hr.

Tailored for the Ursids.

1
Get away from city lights
Light pollution hides most meteors. A rural or dark-sky site boosts your count by 5× or more.
2
Dark-adapt for 20–30 minutes
Your eyes need time to reach peak sensitivity. No phone screens during this window — use a red flashlight if needed.
3
Aim for the best time: after midnight
Earth turns into the debris stream during these hours, so meteors hit head-on and appear more frequent.
4
No telescope, no binoculars
Meteors appear all over the sky — you want the widest view possible. A reclining chair and a blanket are better tools than optics.

Next shower after Ursids

Eta Aquariids · peaks May 6