Ursid meteor shower - Wish upon a Christmas star

Ursid meteor shower
Wish upon a Christmas star

Man sits with telescope looking up at the Milky Way.

The Ursid meteor shower is at its peak, with shooting stars passing by ready for your Christmas wishes!

Though not the most active shower, with a peak of around 10 shooting stars an hour, the Ursids are the final meteor shower of the year.

Beginning on December 17th, and ending on Christmas Day, despite being at their peak right now, viewing conditions are difficult.

It is not until Wednesday that skies begin to clear, with the best visibility to be found in southern England and south-west Ireland as the shower begins to depart.

The Ursids are created by the debris stream left behind by Comet 8P/Tuttle, which returns annually.

Check the WeatherRadar to see how conditions will be for you. If you're lucky, you could find a shooting star for your Christmas wish!

Astrophotography tips with your phoneread more

Ryan Hathaway

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Ursid meteor showerWish upon a Christmas star

Ursid meteor shower
Wish upon a Christmas star