Ursid meteor shower 2026
A small shower right at the winter solstice. The radiant never sets for most of the US and Canada.
Peak: Tuesday, December 22 at 4:54 PM EST (December 22 at 1:54 PM PST on the West Coast). The Moon will be 98% lit: a bright Moon that hides the fainter meteors.
Best time from US cities
Meteor rates rise with the radiant: the higher it is, the more meteors you see. These are the radiant's heights above the horizon through the peak night.
| City | 7 PM local | 9 PM local | 11 PM local | 1 AM local | 3 AM local | 5 AM local |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York | 27° | 28° | 32° | 38° | 45° | 52° |
| Chicago | 28° | 29° | 33° | 39° | 46° | 53° |
| Los Angeles | 20° | 21° | 25° | 32° | 39° | 45° |
Local hours from 8 pm. Radiant: right ascension 217°, declination +76°, in Ursa Minor, near the Little Dipper.
Where it comes from
The Ursids happen when Earth crosses the trail of dust left by comet 8P/Tuttle. The grains, most smaller than a grain of sand, burn up about 50 to 70 miles up at 33 km per second.
How to watch
- Get away from city lights and give your eyes 20 to 30 minutes to adapt. No telescope or binoculars needed.
- Lie back and take in as much sky as you can. Patience pays: meteors often come in small bursts.
- The hours before dawn are usually best, when your side of Earth faces forward into the stream.
Questions people ask
When is the Ursid meteor shower in 2026?
Active Dec 17 to Dec 26, with the peak on Tuesday, December 22 at 4:54 PM EST. The nights on either side are usually worth watching too.
How many meteors will I see?
Up to about 10 an hour is the rate for a perfect, dark sky with the radiant overhead. From a typical rural site expect a third to a half of that, and far fewer from a city.
Where should I look?
Anywhere in the sky. The meteors seem to come from Ursa Minor, near the Little Dipper, but they streak across the whole sky. Looking about 45° away from the radiant often shows longer trails.
Sources: shower data (solar longitude of the peak, ZHR, radiant, speed, active period) from the International Meteor Organization working list, as facts; peak time and Moon computed with Astronomy Engine. Times can differ by a few hours from other calendars.
Page checked: October 25, 2026.