The Ursid meteor shower is peaking this week. So be ready to cap out the year by stargazing.
The Ursid meteor shower typically peaks around the December solstice. EarthSky said the Ursids are likely to peak on the nights of December 21 and 22 this year.
About Ursids Meteor Shower
According to the American Meteor Society, the Ursids are "neglected" among the numerous spectacular meteor showers that dazzle the skies throughout the year. This is because the Ursids come close to Christmas, and the meteor rates are lower than the Geminids, which occur only a week before Christmas and are regarded as the "powerful meteor shower of the year."
The Ursids usually emit five to ten meteors every hour. This year, though, there will be another hiccup in the search for the Ursids since it will occur on a day when the moon will be 93 percent full. This implies that its intense light may make it more difficult to see Ursids.
Ursids Generated 100 Meteors/Hour in 1945!
That isn't to say the Ursids aren't deserving of a night of stargazing. The Ursids meteor shower is a "strictly" northern hemisphere meteor shower that is especially notable for its infrequent outbursts when it generates more meteors per hour than usual. According to Farmer's Almanac, the Ursids generated about 100 meteors per hour in 1945. EarthSky also mentioned this was also the situation in 1986. A "surprising" surge of 30 meteors per hour occurred in 1973.
Such eruptions, though, are uncommon. Even getting a sight of an Ursid meteor or two in the early hours of December 22 may be a great way to end the year of skygazing.
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How to Watch Meteor Shower
TimeAndDate said those who want to keep an eye out for the Ursids don't require any particular gear. But this year, some meteors will be drowned out by moonlight. According to AccuWeather, the meteor shower will be visible in eastern Pennsylvania and northern New Jersey.
Hence, skywatchers should just seek out a dark location away from city lights with a panoramic view of the night sky. It's ideal to set aside a few hours of skywatching between midnight and morning and bring a blanket or comfy chair to make the wait more comfortable. The predawn hours, according to EarthSky, are "typically the most ideal" for the activity.
Remember to dress properly and have plenty of patience since it may become chilly and lengthy wait. Allow your eyes to acclimate to the darkness, and you may be able to identify the Ursids sooner rather than later.
The next meteor shower, according to Leigh Valley Live, is the brief Quadrantids. It will peak on the night of the new moon, Jan. 2-3, lasting around six hours. After then, meteor enthusiasts will have to wait until April 21-22 to see the Lyrids.
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