The Ursid meteor shower peaks this weekend. Here's what to expect from the final 'shooting stars' of 2024

The Ursid meteor shower peaks on Dec. 22 with limited visibility due to moonlight, showing 5-10 meteors per hour.

: The Ursid meteor shower, the last meteor event of 2024, peaks on December 22 in the early morning hours. Viewing conditions may reveal about five to ten meteors per hour because the last quarter moon's 54% brightness can obscure dimmer meteors. The shower originates from comet 8P/Tuttle, with its apparent point of origin at the constellation Ursa Minor. In previous years like 1945, 1968, and 1973, Ursids unpredictably displayed up to 100 meteors per hour.

The Ursid meteor shower, marking the final celestial show of 2024, is set to peak in the predawn hours of December 22. Typically, the Ursids are not known for being particularly prolific, producing around five to ten meteors per hour under optimal conditions. However, this year's viewing will be impacted by illumination from the last quarter moon, which is expected to obscure visibility of all but the brightest meteors.

The Ursid meteors originate from debris left by comet 8P/Tuttle on its orbit around the sun. Although known for their generally low activity, the Ursids have occasionally surprised observers with sudden outbursts. Historical spikes in meteor activity were observed in 1945 and 1968, with meteor counts reaching as high as 100 per hour, and in 1973, about 30 meteors per hour were observed.

Ideal viewing conditions for this event involve finding a dark location with a wide view of the sky, allowing eyes to adjust to the darkness. Although meteors radiate from the constellation Ursa Minor, it is advisable to look slightly away from this radiant for better visibility of meteors. The next meteor shower following the Ursids will be the Quadrantids, expected to peak from the night of January 2 into the morning of January 3, 2025.

astronomyUrsid Meteor8PTuttle