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The major meteor event in December is the Geminids but there's another shower later in the month that's doesn't make quite as many headlines but on occasions can be quite good - the Ursids.

With the radiant located close to the North Pole Star, the Ursids are a Northern Hemisphere shower. They are much less dramatic than the Geminids with only about 10 meteors per hour visible but on several previous occasions they have shown significant bursts of activity and a re-occurrence may happen anytime.

This year's Ursid peak occurs on the night of December 22nd/23rd and the good news the Moon is new and therefore won't interfere.

Parent comet

The comet that sources and therefore responsible for the Ursid meteor shower is 8P/Tuttle (also known as Tuttle's Comet or Comet Tuttle). It has a period of 13.6 years and during the last perihelion on January 27, 2008 it was visible telescopically. The comet passed Earth at a distance of 0.25282 AU (37,821,000 km or 23,501,000 miles) on January 1, 2008 and anticipation was high that the 2007 and 2008 showers may produce much increased activity, but this was not to be. In the end only a small increase was noted.

Comet 8P/Tuttle and M33 The Triangulum Galaxy (Paul Martinez / Philip Brents)

Radiant

The radiant for the Ursids meteors is located in the far northern constellation of Ursa Minor, "The Little Dipper". With a declination of +76 degrees, the Ursid radiant is circumpolar from most northern sites and conversely fails to rise from most southern sites. It is positioned just a few degrees northwest of Kochab (β UMi).

Ursids Radiant and Star Chart

Ursids Radiant and Star Chart - pdf format

What to expect

The best two nights to look for the Ursids are on December 21/22 and 22/23. This years event is extremely favourable as the new Moon will not at all interfere. Normally the Ursids produce a ZHR (Zenithal Hourly Rate) of about 10, although there have been at least two major outbursts in the past 70 years (1945 and 1986). During an outburst the ZHR can jump to at least 50, propelling the shower into the realms of some of the better annual meteor showers of the year.

When observing meteors, they can streak through the sky many degrees from the actual radiant, so it's better not to look directly at it but at a large area of surrounding sky. To confirm an Ursid, trace back the meteor and it will go all the way back to the radiant.

Ursids 2014 Data Table

Meteor shower nameUrsids
Radiant ConstellationUrsa Minor
Dates17th December -> 26th December
Peak Date22nd December
RA (J2000)14hr 28m
DEC (J2000)+76d
Speed (km/s)33
ZHR 10 (occasionally up to 50)
Parent8P/Tuttle (comet)