On Sunday, the final meteor shower of the year, known as the Ursids, will reach its peak just a few days before Christmas.
While the Ursids typically don’t shine as brightly as the more famous Geminids, they can still bring unexpected displays. Shyam Balaji from King’s College London notes that, “The Ursids are generally a sparse meteor shower,” with optimal conditions allowing for about 5 to 10 meteors to be visible each hour.
However, there have been remarkable outbursts in past years, such as in 1945 and 1986, when observers reported seeing as many as 100 meteors per hour. “This unpredictability keeps skywatchers engaged,” Balaji emphasizes, mentioning that it’s impossible to forecast the intensity of this year’s display.
The Ursids originate from the debris of comet 8P/Tuttle, similar to many meteor showers which are caused by remnants from comets. One of the best things about meteor watching is that you don’t need any special equipment; just a clear night and a nice spot to gaze at the sky.
On the night of the shower, the moon will be at 59% full, which might obscure some of the meteors, but viewing opportunities will remain available until December 26.
Looking ahead, the next major meteor shower will be the Quadrantids, peaking on January 3.
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