NEW YORK (AP) — The Ursid meteor shower, the year’s last celestial light show, will reach its peak early Sunday morning, offering skygazers one final astronomical display before 2025.
The shower coincides with the winter solstice and typically produces up to 10 meteors per hour, according to Robert Lunsford, fireball report coordinator for the American Meteor Society. Peak viewing time is expected between 4 and 5 a.m. ET Sunday, though meteors may be visible just after midnight.
“To best see these meteors face toward the north with the moon behind you,” Lunsford said. “Lie in a comfortable lounge chair and center your sight half-way up in the sky.”
The Ursids, which originate near the bowl of the Little Dipper constellation, face several viewing challenges. A 54% full moon will limit visibility of fainter meteors, and the shower traditionally contends with cold, cloudy conditions in the Northern Hemisphere. The shower primarily favors northern viewers, as its radiant point never rises high enough for optimal viewing in the Southern Hemisphere.
Experts recommend avoiding evening hours before moonrise, when meteor activity will be blocked by the horizon. Instead, the best viewing opportunities will come in the pre-dawn hours. Viewers should allow at least an hour for their eyes to adjust to darkness and dress warmly for extended outdoor observation.
The Ursids occur as Earth passes through debris left by comet 8P/Tuttle. Unlike many meteor showers that have been documented for centuries, the Ursids weren’t observed until the 20th century, when astronomers noticed meteors appearing to emanate from the Little Dipper.
For those who miss the Ursids or encounter cloudy conditions, the Quadrantid meteor shower will begin December 26 and peak on January 3, 2025. The Quadrantids will benefit from better viewing conditions, with the moon only 11% full during peak activity.
“If your sky is cloudy in the morning of December 22nd, you will have one more opportunity to see a meteor shower in the near future when the Quadrantids peak on the morning of January 3rd,” Lunsford said.
