When is the Ursid meteor shower 2026?
The Ursids peak on December 22, 2026
Peak Dec 22, 22:00 UT. ZHR 10, Moon 98% lit at the peak. From New York, the best window is 5:40 am–6:20 am on the night of Monday, December 21–22. Pick your city for its own times.
Best time to watch
computed for each cityAt 6:10 am the radiant in Ursa Minor is 53° up; the radiant is already up at nightfall. Moon 95% lit, up all night. Dark sky 5:40 pm–6:20 am.
| Night | Best time | Meteors per hour* |
|---|---|---|
| Sun, Dec 20–21 | 4:30 am–6:20 am | 1 |
| Mon, Dec 21–22 | 5:40 am–6:20 am | 4 |
| Tue, Dec 22–23 peak | 6:00 am–6:20 am | 2 |
| Wed, Dec 23–24 | 5:40 pm–9:10 pm | under 1 |
| Thu, Dec 24–25 | 5:40 pm–6:00 pm | under 1 |
* Estimated meteors per hour at the best time from a dark site under a clear sky (ZHR × radiant height × Moon). From a town expect a third or less. Rates vary from year to year; weather is not forecast.
City by city
The best night and window for the Ursids in our biggest cities, local time.
| City | Best night | Best time (local) | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York | Mon, Dec 21–22 | 5:40 am–6:20 am | 4 |
| Los Angeles | Mon, Dec 21–22 | 5:20 am–6:00 am | 4 |
| Chicago | Mon, Dec 21–22 | 5:40 am–6:10 am | 5 |
| Houston | Mon, Dec 21–22 | 5:30 am–6:20 am | 4 |
| Phoenix | Mon, Dec 21–22 | 5:50 am–6:40 am | 4 |
| Philadelphia | Mon, Dec 21–22 | 5:40 am–6:20 am | 4 |
| Jacksonville | Mon, Dec 21–22 | 5:40 am–6:30 am | 4 |
| Columbus | Mon, Dec 21–22 | 6:10 am–6:50 am | 4 |
| Charlotte | Mon, Dec 21–22 | 5:50 am–6:30 am | 4 |
| Indianapolis | Mon, Dec 21–22 | 6:20 am–7:00 am | 4 |
| Seattle | Mon, Dec 21–22 | 6:10 am–6:40 am | 5 |
| Denver | Mon, Dec 21–22 | 5:40 am–6:20 am | 5 |
| London | Mon 21–22 Dec | 6:10 am–6:50 am | 4 |
| Birmingham | Mon 21–22 Dec | 6:20 am–7:00 am | 4 |
| Glasgow | Mon 21–22 Dec | 6:40 am–7:10 am | 3 |
| Manchester | Mon 21–22 Dec | 6:30 am–7:00 am | 4 |
| Toronto | Mon, Dec 21–22 | 6:10 am–6:40 am | 4 |
| Montréal | Mon, Dec 21–22 | 5:50 am–6:20 am | 5 |
| Calgary | Mon, Dec 21–22 | 7:50 am–8:20 am | 5 |
| Ottawa | Mon, Dec 21–22 | 6:00 am–6:30 am | 5 |
| Sydney | Sun 20–21 Dec | Radiant below the horizon | – |
| Melbourne | Sun 20–21 Dec | Radiant below the horizon | – |
| Brisbane | Sun 20–21 Dec | Radiant below the horizon | – |
| Perth | Sun 20–21 Dec | Radiant below the horizon | – |
| Dublin | Mon 21–22 Dec | 6:50 am–7:20 am | 4 |
| Auckland | Sun 20–21 Dec | Radiant below the horizon | – |
* Estimated meteors per hour at the best time from a dark site under a clear sky (ZHR × radiant height × Moon). From a town expect a third or less. Rates vary from year to year; weather is not forecast.
About the Ursids
The Ursids radiate from near the bowl of the Little Dipper, close to the north celestial pole, so from mid-northern latitudes the radiant never sets. Rates are modest (about 10 an hour) with occasional outbursts. From the southern hemisphere they are not visible.
IMO: maximum December 22 at 22h UT, two days before Full Moon; the 96% lit Moon makes good observations unlikely. A weak filament encounter near December 22, 14h UT may add a little (ZHR under 20).
Parent body: comet 8P/Tuttle. Active Dec 17–Dec 26. Radiant in Ursa Minor; northern hemisphere.
How to watch
- Get dark. Away from street lights the count can triple.
- Lie back and look about halfway up, toward the darkest part of the sky. You do not need to face the radiant.
- Give it time. Meteors come in clumps; watch for at least 30–60 minutes after your eyes adapt.
- Check the clouds with your local forecast: we do not forecast weather.
Questions
When is the Ursid meteor shower 2026?
The Ursids are active Dec 17–Dec 26, with the peak Dec 22, 22:00 UT (International Meteor Organization). The best night for you depends on where the peak falls in your local night; the city picker on this page works it out.
What time is best to see the Ursids?
From New York, 5:40 am–6:20 am on the night of Monday, December 21–22, when the radiant is 53° up. In general, when the radiant is highest in a dark sky, which for most showers is after midnight.
How many Ursids will I see per hour?
The IMO lists a ZHR of 10: the rate under a perfect sky with the radiant overhead. From a dark site near New York at the best time, expect about 4 an hour; from a town, a third or less. These are estimates: real rates vary.
Will the Moon affect the Ursids?
The Moon is 98% lit at the peak. It will hide fainter meteors while it is up; the table shows when it rises or sets for your city.
Where should I look for the Ursids?
Anywhere: meteors appear all over the sky, they only trace back to the radiant in Ursa Minor. Look about halfway up, away from the Moon and city lights, and give your eyes 20 minutes to adapt.
Other meteor showers
Dates, peak times, ZHR and radiant positions: International Meteor Organization, Meteor Shower Calendar 2026 and 2027 (J. Rendtel, ed.), working list of visual meteor showers. Where the IMO gives no peak time, it is the moment the Sun reaches the listed solar longitude. Darkness, Moon and radiant height computed with Skyfield and JPL DE440. Hourly rates are our estimates from the ZHR and are uncertain; real rates vary from year to year. We do not forecast clouds.