Ursids Radiant - December 22nd
Our next meteor shower, the Ursids will peak in the morning hours of December 22, 2008 with a waning crescent moon present in the sky thus shedding less light. The parent comet of this shower, the 8P/Tuttle passed closely to Earth in January of 2008. It is unknown if this will increase the activity of this shower, but it certainly adds to a greater chance that the zenith hourly rate (ZHR) could be near 20. This means up to 20 meteors an hour could be seen under perfect viewing conditions. This shower is best viewed in the Northern Hemisphere as its radiant comes from Ursa Minor also known as the “Little Dipper” which contains Polaris the North Star. Scientists predict the peak time to be 09:30 Universal Time or 4:30 AM Eastern Standard Time. The Ursids are usually overlooked each year because of the holiday season and poor weather conditions. This is definitely a meteor shower for hard-core meteor enthusiasts. Dress warmly and have a look, one never knows what could happen when it comes to meteor showers in the year 2000 some meteor observers reported seeing Ursids outbursts up to the equivalent of 90 meteors per hour.
Your comments and questions are always welcome. Keep your head up!
- Meteor Mark
