After the Geminidsthe shooting stars of December are not over: from the 17th to the 26th of the month, in fact, the Ursidswhich will reach the peak on day 22. Their observation, among other things, will be particularly favorable this year given the near absence of the Moon, which will have passed the New phase just two days ago. Let’s prepare wishes!
As the UAI explains, in the final part of the month, the Ursidsactive from 17 to 26 December with a maximum around the 22nd. Their average activity is modest (ZHR ≈ 10), but in some years there have been outburst up to 50 or more meteors per hour.
The shower is linked to the periodic comet 8P/Tuttlebut their name derives from the radiant, or the point from which the meteors appear to start, located in the constellation Ursa Minor. They are distinguished by slow meteors and their polar position, and this allows them to be observed for almost all night even at our latitudes (on the map the sky of December 22, 2025 at approximately 11.30 pm).
Don’t miss it!
Source: UAI
