Next Meteor Shower - The Ursids - A Crescent Moon Phase During the Peak Activity
The next meteor shower of December 2008, the Ursids, will be more easily observed this year because the moon will be in a crescent phase during their peak on December 22nd. The Ursids Meteor Shower is produced by the comet 8P/Tuttle that passed Earth in its 13.6-year orbit sometime in January of this year. For these reasons I believe there may be some improved viewing opportunities.
Starting December 17th through December 26th the radiant for this meteor shower will be near the Little Dipper. Meteor gazers should be looking to the north for this shower. Onlookers may also see some remnant activity from the Geminids meteor shower and a minor meteor shower the Coma Berenicids that started December 12th. The Coma Berenicids will peak on December 20th and will remain active until late next month.
The Ursids are known to enter Earth’s atmosphere at medium speeds like the Geminids traveling at about 30 to 35 kilometers a second. I recommend spending an hour outside observing this shower on December 22nd between 2:00 AM and 3:00 AM Eastern Standard Time (7:00 to 8:00 Universal Time).
If you’re in cold climates dress warmly, get a few friends to join you and observe in a safe dark place, you may be surprised. I know for a fact I will be dragging my girlfriend out into another cold winter night to watch one of my favorite celestial events, the next meteor shower called the Ursids.
In the meantime bookmark the site and report your viewing activity here, I always enjoy your comments and your questions.
Keep your head up!
- Meteor Mark
on Dec 21st, 2008 at 2:00 am
Meteor Mark,
I will be looking after midnight on December 22. Thanks for the information.
Aaron
on Dec 21st, 2008 at 8:21 pm
I am going to be up I took a power nap and all!!! Nice site you have here!!!!!!
Diane
on Dec 21st, 2008 at 9:27 pm
Diane,
Let me know what you see. It’s snowing here in CT. I doubt it will clear in time for me. Dedicate one hour if you can between 4AM – 5AM EST. I would suggest looking at the darkest spot in the sky. Ursids can be faint and also have been known to transmit frequencies that can be picked up on hand held radios too!
Just don’t wake up the neighbors with your radio…
Let me know if you see any.
- Meteor Mark