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Meteor ShowerA quiet solstice shower

Ursid Meteor Shower

Photo information

Ursid Meteor Shower

Record
Some attribution details are unavailable.
Known details

International Gemini Observatory/NOIRLab/NSF/AURA / CC BY 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

View source

Northern Hemisphere, pre-dawnWhere it's visible
~10 / hourPeak rate
YesVisible from the U.S.
35%Moon at peak
Viewing advice

Northern hemisphere only in practice. The radiant is in Ursa Minor at roughly 76 degrees north, so it never rises at all from the southern hemisphere.

The best time to see Ursid Meteor Shower in 2027 is December 21-22, 2027. Timing status: Predicted dates.

A low-key shower to close out the year.

The Ursids are a modest solstice-season shower radiating near the Little Dipper. Rates are low, but a dark, moonless night can still turn up a steady trickle before dawn.

Moon at the peak: waning crescent, 35% lit (excellent). A thin moon means minimal wash-out: dark skies for all but the faintest streaks.

Why it happens

Comet 8P/Tuttle
Inclined 55° to Earth's orbit. Every December, Earth reaches the node where this comet's dust crosses its path, and the debris burns up as the shower.
3D by Ian Webster

Where to view it

Best seen far from city lights. Tap a spot to plan a trip around it.

Brighter = more light pollution · NASA Black Marble

Next time: Ursid Meteor Shower, December 21-22, 2028

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Frequently asked questions

When is Ursid Meteor Shower 2027?

Ursid Meteor Shower 2027: December 21-22, 2027.

When is Ursid Meteor Shower 2028?

Ursid Meteor Shower 2028: December 21-22, 2028.