The Ursids are a minor meteor shower, with about 5-10 meteors visible per hour, which is just a slight bump above normal background amounts. This is a meteor shower for diehards only, especially with chilly winter temperatures for observers in much of the Northern Hemisphere!!
Their radiant, or point of origin in the sky, is from Ursa Minor (which you may know as the Little Dipper), but meteors will appear through the entire sky. This year their peak will be the evening of December 21-22, and will be most visible during the very early morning hours of December 22 .
It's winter in the Northern Hemisphere, so bundle up if you want to watch for meteors, as it is getting late in the year. Get to a dark spot, get comfortable, bring extra blankets to stay warm, and let your eyes adjust to the dark sky. A cozy lounge chair makes for a great seat, as does simply lying on your back on a blanket, eyes scanning the whole sky.
Find out more Ursids observing tips courtesy EarthSky. The Night Sky Network has a handout that you may find useful for your meteor watching party: Heads Up: It's a Meteor Shower Handout!
Their radiant, or point of origin in the sky, is from Ursa Minor (which you may know as the Little Dipper), but meteors will appear through the entire sky. This year their peak will be the evening of December 21-22, and will be most visible during the very early morning hours of December 22 .
It's winter in the Northern Hemisphere, so bundle up if you want to watch for meteors, as it is getting late in the year. Get to a dark spot, get comfortable, bring extra blankets to stay warm, and let your eyes adjust to the dark sky. A cozy lounge chair makes for a great seat, as does simply lying on your back on a blanket, eyes scanning the whole sky.
Find out more Ursids observing tips courtesy EarthSky. The Night Sky Network has a handout that you may find useful for your meteor watching party: Heads Up: It's a Meteor Shower Handout!
Date: Wednesday, December 22, 2021