Ursids meteor shower set to illuminate the sky tonight for last time before 2035

The final meteor shower of 2023 is set to light up the sky tonight as the Ursids meteor shower reaches its peak.

The cosmic event began on 17 December and it set to continue until 26 December, but it will be most dazzling tonight (21 December) until tomorrow, and won't be expected to make a return until 2035.

Ursids meteors come from a stream of debris left behind by comet 8P/Tuttle, though they appear in the sky to come from the Ursa Minor constellation.

Comet 8P/Tuttle was first discovered in 1790, shedding dust as it approached the Sun and the ice which trapped material on to them melted away.

Meteors enter Earth's atmosphere at speeds of up to 70 kilometres per second; a speed which causes them to vaporise into the streaks of light we can see from Earth.

The display comes shortly after the Geminids lit up the sky earlier this month with more than 100 shooting stars - a tough act to follow.

Ursids' hourly rate is lower than the Geminid shower, offering around 10 meteors per hour, though it can offer up to 25 meteors per hour in its prime.

To get the best view of the meteor shower, you can direct your gaze towards Usa Minor, whose stars circle the North Star.

Getty Stock Photo

Ursa Minor is a circumpolar constellation, meaning it's visible throughout the night, but the moon is set to cause a bit of trouble due to the waxing gibbous phase it will be in during the Ursids' peak.

The light of the moon isn't ideal for stargazing, but the meteor shower should still be visible without binoculars or telescopes.

Royal Museums Greenwich recommends bringing a comfy chair and wrapping up warm in order to prepare for a night of stargazing, as it can be a 'waiting game'.

"They can be seen with the naked eye so there's no need for binoculars or a telescope, though you will need to allow your eyes to adjust to the dark," the site explains.

The Planetary Society adds the Ursids Meteor shower is best viewed from the Northern Hemisphere, though viewers in the Southern Hemisphere are still in with a chance of seeing a few meteors streaking up from the northern horizon.

It's also best to get away from city lights to avoid light pollution while watching the Meteor shower, to ensure you can get the best view of the sky.

If you've got something special on your Christmas list, the night full of shooting stars could be the perfect time to wish for it.

Topics: Space, Science, NASA

Emily Brown

Emily Brown is UNILAD Editorial Lead at LADbible Group. She first began delivering news when she was just 11 years old - with a paper route - before graduating with a BA Hons in English Language in the Media from Lancaster University. Emily joined UNILAD in 2018 to cover breaking news, trending stories and longer form features. She went on to become Community Desk Lead, commissioning and writing human interest stories from across the globe, before moving to the role of Editorial Lead. Emily now works alongside the UNILAD Editor to ensure the page delivers accurate, interesting and high quality content.