Ursid Meteor Shower Peaks Dec. 22 Across Northern Hemisphere

Overview

• The peak is expected on Monday, December 22, around 19:00 MSK, with activity lasting through the night at northern latitudes.
• The Moon will be near new and roughly 6% illuminated, reducing skyglow for observers under clear skies.
• Astronomers at the Moscow Planetarium estimate viewing rates of around 10 meteors per hour.
• The radiant is in Ursa Minor, so the shower is visible only from the Northern Hemisphere, including across Russia in clear weather.
• The Ursids come from debris shed by periodic comet 8P/Tuttle, and rare past outbursts have reached roughly 100–120 meteors per hour.