Ursids: Final meteor shower of 2024
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The first full night of astronomical winter is the longest night of the year and is made even more special by the annual Ursid meteor shower.
The Ursids will peak on the evening of Saturday, Dec. 21, into the early morning hours of Sunday, Dec. 22. Stargazers who venture out into the chilly, winter night where there is a clear sky may see up to 10 shooting stars per hour.
Astronomy Professor Chris Palma from Penn State University offers his advice on how to catch the best astronomical events this December.
Ursid meteors are composed of debris from Comet P8/Tuttle. The size of space pebbles and coarse sand, Ursids are larger than typical comet particles and fall at a rate of more than 73,000 mph.
The Ursid meteors can appear in any part of the sky. To see the most “shooting stars,” find a location away from light-polluted skies and just look up.
The last quarter moon that rises may hinder your view of the Ursids. To see more meteors, go out before the moon rises or try to block out its bright light by positioning yourself near a tree that will hide the moon from view.
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