Ursid Meteor Shower Tonight: Ursid meteor shower, the final major celestial event of 2025, is set to illuminate the late-December sky as Earth passes through debris left behind by Comet 8P/Tuttle. Though smaller than some well-known meteor showers, the Ursids remain a long-standing winter tradition for skywatchers in the Northern Hemisphere.
According to Time Magazine, the meteor shower began on December 17 and will stay active until December 26, giving observers several nights to catch shooting stars.
Why the ursid meteor shower is special
The Ursids are named after the constellation Ursa Minor, also known as the Little Dipper, which is where the meteors appear to originate. This radiant point stays above the northern horizon all night for northern latitudes, making it visible for long stretches of time. The shower is harder to observe from the Southern Hemisphere, where the radiant sits too far north in the sky.
Best time to watch the Ursids in 2025
The meteor shower is expected to peak between the late evening of December 21 and the early morning hours of December 22. This timing closely aligns with the winter solstice, which marks the longest night of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. According to a report by CNN, viewers under dark skies may spot about 5 to 10 meteors per hour during peak activity. While this is far fewer than the Geminid meteor shower earlier this month, the Ursids still offer a rewarding experience for patient observers.
Skywatchers will benefit from particularly favourable viewing conditions in 2025. A near-new moon during the peak nights means very little moonlight will interfere with visibility, allowing even faint meteor streaks to stand out against the dark sky.
How and where to watch the meteor shower
The best time to observe meteor activity is from late evening through dawn, with the hours before sunrise often producing the most meteors. This happens as Earth rotates directly into the stream of cosmic debris.
For viewers in India and much of Asia, watching the Ursids can be more challenging due to the shower’s northern radiant. However, under clear skies and in rural areas with low light pollution, observers may still catch shooting stars after nightfall on peak dates.
Local astronomy guides suggest scanning the northern sky from late evening until just before dawn for the best chance of spotting meteors.
How the Ursids compare to the geminids
The Ursids are far less intense than the Geminid meteor shower, producing roughly one-tenth the number of meteors. At their best, they generate about 10 meteors per hour. Still, the radiant remains visible all night across much of the Northern Hemisphere, allowing observers to watch both late on December 21 and again before sunrise on December 22.
Moon phase and sky conditions during the peak
Sunrise is at 7:19 A.M. and sunset at 4:38 P.M., while the Moon rises at 9:32 A.M. and sets at 7:04 P.M. The Moon will be in a waxing crescent phase with 9 percent illumination, helping keep skies dark during peak viewing hours. These timings are based on local time at 40° N, 90° W, with lunar illumination measured at 10 P.M.