Home / Editor's Pick /

Ursid meteor shower: Wish upon a Christmas star

11:30
23 December 2024

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 Boxing Day, the peak has been largely obscured by cloud cover and passing showers.

Clouds do part on Christmas Day for some areas across England and Ireland, offering a better chance of spotting a meteor.

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 for your phoneread also
Ryan Hathaway
More on the topic
People walk through muddy streets after heavy rain, alongside a rain map of Morocco.
Tuesday, 16 December 2025

New rainfall in sight

Fatalities in Moroccan floods
Split image showing a night-time UK rain radar map with blue precipitation bands, city temperature markers, and a rain cloud icon on the left, and a star-filled night sky with the Milky Way and a silhouetted telescope on the right, divided by a curved white line.
Sunday, 21 December 2025

Ursid meteor shower

Wish upon a Christmas star
Split image showing a family and children playing and sledding on a snowy field with winter hills on the left, and a UK weather forecast map on the right with sun and cloud icons, city temperatures, and cloud cover over northern Scotland, divided by a curved white line.
Wednesday, 24 December 2025

Unlikely this year

Defining a White Christmas
All weather news
This might also interest you
Split weather map showing UK wind speeds in orange-red shades up to 40 mph on the left and warning levels in green-yellow on the right, with a central wind warning sign.
Wednesday, 22 October 2025

Warnings active

Storm Benjamin impacts the UK
Split weather map showing the UK and Ireland. The left side illustrates strong winds circulating around a low-pressure system, with gusts of 20–30 mph highlighted in orange and yellow. The right side shows radar imagery with widespread blue rain bands and patches of thunderstorms, especially over northern England and Scotland.
Thursday, 28 August 2025

Breakfast brief

Remaining widely unsettled
Weather graphic showing rain and wind fields over the Canary Islands and a central warning symbol.
Friday, 12 December 2025

Storm and rain

Turbulent weather in the Canary Islands
All articles
Weather & Radar

Weather & Radar is also available on

Google Play StoreApp Store

Company

Contact us Privacy Policy Legal info Accessibility statement

Services

Uploader

Socials

facebooktwittertikToklinkList