Although the winter air and a 54% full moon may make it harder to see the meteors clearly, there are a few simple steps you can follow to enjoy this natural display.
The Ursid meteor shower is happening from December 17 to December 24, 2024, and it will be the last major meteor shower of the year. The best time to see it will be around December 23, when the shower is expected to peak. The Ursid meteor shower occurs once a year and was first observed in the early 1900s by British astronomer William F. Denning.
Although the winter air and a 54% full moon may make it harder to see the meteors clearly, there are a few simple steps you can follow to enjoy this natural display. According to Robert Lunsford, fireball report coordinator for the American Meteor Society, the best time to watch the shower will be from 4 to 5 AM ET on Sunday, December 23 (2 to 3 PM IST).
For people in North America, midnight to early morning is the best time to catch the meteors. If you stay awake and watch closely, you could see up to 10 meteors per hour. The best part is, you don’t need any special equipment since the meteors are visible to the naked eye.
To get the best view of the meteors, face north with the moon behind you. Lie back comfortably and look halfway up in the sky so the horizon is at the bottom of your view. If there are trees or buildings in your way, try looking a bit higher. The lower parts of the sky are thicker, and that’s where the most meteors will appear.
If you miss the Ursid meteor shower due to sleep or cloudy skies, don’t worry. The Quadrantid meteor shower will be next, starting on December 26 and peaking on January 3. The Quadrantids will be easier to see since the moon will only be 11% full, making it brighter and clearer.
