Archive · 18 Dec 2025
Ursid Meteor Shower 2025: Peak Viewing Tips
The Ursid meteor shower is the last big meteor event of 2025.
It happens from December 17 to 26, with the best time to watch being the night of December 21 until dawn on December 22.
The moon will be almost new, making the sky very dark.
You can see about 5 to 10 meteors per hour, and sometimes even more in short bursts.
The meteors come from a comet called 8P/Tuttle.
To watch, go somewhere far from city lights, let your eyes adjust to the dark, and dress warmly.
The Ursids are not as flashy as other showers, but they're still fun to watch, especially if you live in the Northern Hemisphere.
The Ursid meteor shower peaks on December 21–22, 2025, with favorable dark-sky conditions due to a nearly new moon.
Best viewing is from the evening of December 21 through dawn on December 22, with a predicted maximum around 11 UTC on December 22.
Observers can expect 5–10 meteors per hour, with occasional outbursts of 25+ meteors per hour.
The shower is best viewed from mid-to-high northern latitudes, with poor visibility in the Southern Hemisphere.
The Ursids originate from Comet 8P/Tuttle, with meteors entering Earth's atmosphere at 20.5 miles per second (33.1 km/s).
- Who
- Skywatchers in the Northern Hemisphere
- What
- Ursid meteor shower
- When
- Peak on December 21–22, 2025
- Where
- Mid-to-high northern latitudes
- Why
- Earth passing through Comet 8P/Tuttle's debris trail
- Active Period
- December 17–26, 2025
- Peak Viewing
- Evening of December 21 through dawn on December 22
- Moon Phase
- 3% full
- Meteors per Hour
- 5–10 (up to 25 during outbursts)
- Zenithal Hourly Rate (ZHR)
- 10
- Best Viewing Locations
- Mid-to-high northern latitudes
- Origin
- Comet 8P/Tuttle
- Entry Speed
- 20.5 miles per second (33.1 km/s)