Ursid Meteor Shower Peaks December 21-22, 2025

Stargazers in the Northern Hemisphere have a final opportunity this year to witness the Ursid meteor shower, which reaches its peak on the evening of December 21 and into the early morning hours of December 22, 2025. The event, visible across much of the region under clear skies, promises up to 10 meteors per hour streaking across the night sky, produced by Earth passing through debris from Comet 8P/Tuttle.

The Ursids, named for the constellation Ursa Minor from which the meteors appear to radiate, began activity on December 17 and will continue through December 26. Observers typically spot five to 10 shooting stars hourly under ideal conditions, though the shower has occasionally surprised viewers with bursts of 25 or more. In rare historical instances, such as in 1945 and 1986, rates soared to around 100 per hour, according to astronomers. This year's display benefits from the winter solstice on December 21, offering the longest night of the year, combined with a thin waxing crescent moon that sets early, minimizing light interference and providing exceptionally dark skies.

Meteor showers occur when Earth intersects streams of cosmic dust and rock left by comets, causing...