After the stunning show of the Geminid meteor shower, here comes the Ursid meteor shower. The Ursid meteor shower began on 17 December and will be active until December 26. In case you missed the Geminid meteor shower the Ursids bring you an opportunity to experience a meteor shower in 2024.
The peak of the Ursid meteor shower in 2024 is expected to be on 22-23 December. The moon will be 56% illuminated on December 22 according to Moongiant, making it a little harder for you to spot the meteors. However, under ideal conditions, one can spot around 10 meteors per hour during the peak.
Radiant Point of the Ursid meteor shower
The radiant point of the Ursid meteor shower is located in the constellation Ursa Minor. You can use a live interactive sky map like Stellarium to find the radiant point in the night sky. (Note: The meteors may seem to originate from the radiant point, but the meteors can appear anywhere in the night sky.)
Parent Body of the Ursid meteor shower
The Ursid meteor shower originates from the comet 8P/Tuttle, which is also known as Tuttle’s comet. The Ursid meteor shower occurs when the Earth passes through the debris trail of comet 8P/Tuttle burning the debris in the atmosphere creating a meteor shower.
The comet 8P/Tuttle is a periodic comet, it takes 13.6 years to complete one orbit around the Sun. It was discovered by an American astronomer named Horace Parnell Tuttle in 1858. (Note: A parent body of the meteor shower is from where the meteors originate, and a radiant point is a point in the sky from where the meteors seem to appear).
How to observe the Ursid meteor shower?
You can observe the Ursid meteor shower without a telescope or a binocular, as most of the meteors are bright and visible to the naked eye.
Here are some tips to enhance your viewing experience:
- Find a dark location away from the city lights to be able to spot the meteors properly without any interference from the bright lights.
- Once you arrive at the location, let your eyes adjust to the darkness; this may take up to 30 minutes. Avoid using phones or any other device that emits light. When using the Stellarium app, you can switch to night mode inside the app.
- Carry essentials such as water, a comfortable chair or a sheet, and wear weatherproof clothes, as watching the meteor showers requires patience and time.
You can now lay back and indulge in the awe-inspiring show of the Ursid meteor shower.
