December 17 – December 26 · Ursa Minor
Ursids
A quiet solstice shower
See the Ursids from your location
See the exact local peak time and how high the radiant climbs from where you are.
What is the Ursids meteor shower?
A quiet shower peaking around the December solstice, often overshadowed by the Geminids a week earlier. Circumpolar and best from the far Northern Hemisphere.
When do the Ursids peak in 2026?
The Ursids peak on the night of December 22, 2026. Under ideal dark skies with the radiant high overhead they can produce up to 10 meteors an hour — the number you'll actually see depends on your latitude, the moon, and how dark your sky is.
Ursids at a glance
Where the Ursids come from
The Ursids are debris shed by 8P/Tuttle, a comet. Each year the Earth ploughs through this ancient trail of dust and the specks burn up in our atmosphere as meteors.
How to watch the Ursids
Get away from city lights
Light pollution is the enemy. A dark rural sky can turn a handful of meteors into dozens.
Look up after midnight
Most showers are best between midnight and dawn, when your side of Earth turns to face the debris stream head-on.
Let your eyes adapt
Give your eyes 20 minutes in the dark and put the phone away. Then just watch — meteors can streak across any part of the sky.
Common questions about the Ursids
When do the Ursids peak in 2026?+
The Ursids reach their maximum on the night of December 22, 2026, though a few meteors are visible from December 17 – December 26.
Where should I look to see the Ursids?+
The meteors radiate from the constellation Ursa Minor, but they streak across the whole sky — you don't need to find the radiant. Just face the darkest part of your sky and take in as much of it as you can.
Do I need a telescope to watch the Ursids?+
No. Meteor showers are a naked-eye event — a telescope's narrow view would only work against you. All you need is a dark sky, a reclining chair, and some patience.
What causes the Ursids?+
The Ursids happen when Earth passes through a stream of debris left behind by 8P/Tuttle. The dust grains hit our atmosphere at 33 km/s and burn up as bright streaks of light.
Other meteor showers
Never miss a shower again
Get a push alert the evening a shower peaks over your city — and only when the sky is actually clear. Free.