Skywatchers across the UK and the wider northern hemisphere are in for a celestial treat tonight as the Ursid meteor shower reaches its peak, marking the final major shooting star display of 2025.
When and How to Watch the Ursids
The Ursid meteor shower is active from 13 December until 24 December, with its most intense activity concentrated on Monday 22 December. During the peak, observers under dark, clear skies can expect to see around five to ten meteors per hour. Astronomers recommend facing the northern half of the sky and looking up at roughly a 45-degree angle for the best chance of a sighting.
Robert Lunsford from the American Meteor Society advises patience, noting that "meteor activity is notoriously variable". He suggests viewing for at least an hour to catch the natural peaks and lulls in activity. This year, a slender waxing crescent moon will set early, providing dark skies that are ideal for meteor watching without lunar interference.
The Science Behind the Spectacle
This annual light show occurs when Earth ploughs through a stream of dusty debris left behind by comet 8P/Tuttle. As these tiny particles, often no larger than a grain of sand, collide with our atmosphere at high speed, they burn up, creating the bright streaks we call shooting stars. The shower gets its name from its radiant point in the constellation Ursa Minor, also known as the Little Bear or Little Dipper.
Due to this northern radiant position, the Ursids are only visible from the northern hemisphere. The American Meteor Society describes them as the "least observed of the major annual showers", largely because December nights are frequently cold and cloudy.
Viewing Forecast and What Comes Next
Current Met Office forecasts indicate patchy cloud across large parts of the UK during the peak, though clear spells may offer glimpses. Viewing conditions are generally more favourable across most of the United States.
For those who miss tonight's display, the next opportunity arrives swiftly with the Quadrantid meteor shower in early January. Peaking on the night of 3-4 January, it promises an impressive 40 meteors per hour. However, its brilliance will be challenged by a full supermoon, which will brighten the sky and hinder visibility.
The most anticipated meteor shower of 2026 is likely to be the Perseids in August, forecast to produce up to 60 meteors per hour at its peak on 12 August—coincidentally, the same date as a total solar eclipse will pass over parts of Europe.
