Ursid meteor shower to peak on the night of December 21
As the year comes to a close, sky-gazers will have one last chance to witness a spectacular celestial event – the Ursid meteor shower. The Ursids are set to peak on the night of December 21 through the early morning of December 22, offering a breathtaking display of shooting stars.
According to the American Meteor Society, the Ursids will be visible in the Northern Hemisphere, with around five to 10 meteors streaking across the sky per hour. The timing of this year’s Ursid meteor shower is particularly special as it coincides with the winter solstice, the longest night of the year for the Northern Hemisphere.
Weather permitting, the best time to view the meteors will be between 3 a.m. and dawn local time on Friday, after the moon has set. However, the moon will be 74% full on the night of the peak, which may affect visibility earlier in the evening due to its bright light.
The Ursids are an annual meteor shower that originates from the constellation Ursa Minor, also known as the Little Dipper. Unlike the Geminids, which deliver high rates of meteor sightings several days before and after the peak, the Ursids have a relatively short span of maximum activity, with only one meteor an hour expected a few days before and after the peak.
Researchers are encouraging sky-gazers to report their meteor sightings to the American Meteor Society to contribute to the collection of valuable data. By logging the time, magnitude, and other characteristics of meteor sightings, researchers can gather more information on the region of space within Earth’s orbital path, which helps to explain the origin and behavior of meteor showers.
The Ursids may be the last annual celestial event of this year, but the first meteor shower of 2024 is not too far off – the Quadrantids will peak during the morning of January 4.
So grab a warm coat, head outside, and prepare to be mesmerized by the mesmerizing display of the Ursid meteor shower at the close of 2023. And if you miss it, worry not. There’s always next year to witness the magic of celestial events.