🌠 Ursids Meteor Shower 2026
A minor, often-overlooked shower peaking just before Christmas — a quiet way to close out the meteor year.
Peak night: Monday, December 21, 2026 · Radiant: Ursa Minor · Source: Comet 8P/Tuttle
Viewing Conditions for the Ursids
Peak Night
December 21, 2026
Theoretical Rate
Up to 10/hour
Moon on Peak Night
Waxing Gibbous (87% lit)
Moon Impact
Significant interference
Where to Look
North, near the Little Dipper — Ursa Minor is circumpolar for most Northern Hemisphere observers and visible all night.
Best Time
Pre-dawn hours of December 21 tend to be best, though as a circumpolar radiant, the shower is technically visible at any hour of the night.
Active Dec 17 through Dec 25, 2026, favoring the Northern Hemisphere. Moon on peak night: Waxing Gibbous, 87% illuminated.
Viewing Tips
- →Because the radiant, Ursa Minor, never sets for most Northern Hemisphere observers, the Ursids are technically viewable at any hour, though pre-dawn is usually best.
- →Rates are modest and the shower is often overlooked so close to the December holidays — but a clear, cold night can still be a rewarding, low-effort watch.
- →Dress very warm; late December viewing conditions are the coldest of any major shower on this list.
📷 Photography Tips
- →Frame toward the north, centered near Polaris and the Little Dipper, since the radiant stays in roughly the same part of the sky all night.
- →A circumpolar radiant means star trails are also a viable creative option if meteor rates are quiet during your session.
- →Battery life drops faster in cold weather — keep spares warm in an inside pocket during a long December session.
Live sky conditions for your exact location, including cloud cover: Sky Tonight.
Gear That Helps (Optional)
Meteor showers are a naked-eye event — you don't need anything to watch the Ursids. Binoculars can help you explore the sky between meteors, or get a closer look at the shower's radiant area.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why are the Ursids so overlooked?+
They peak just before Christmas, in cold weather, with a modest rate compared to shows like the Geminids just a week earlier — the combination of timing and rate means far fewer people plan around them.
Can I watch the Ursids all night since the radiant never sets?+
Technically yes, since Ursa Minor is circumpolar for most Northern Hemisphere latitudes — but rates are still generally best in the darker pre-dawn hours, same as most showers.