The Final Meteor Shower Spectacle of the Year: How to Witness It
Don't miss the grand finale of the year! Witness the spectacular Ursid meteor shower on Friday, offering a stunning display of 5-10 meteors per hour Join sky-gazers in mapping this celestial phenomenon
Join CNN's Wonder Theory science newsletter and stay updated on the latest news about fascinating discoveries, scientific advancements, and more. Don't miss out on the last meteor shower of 2023, as it's set to send meteors streaking across the sky just in time for the holidays.
The Ursids are set to reach their peak on Thursday night through the early hours of Friday, as reported by the American Meteor Society. Those willing to endure the cold may spot around five to 10 meteors per hour. This year, the Ursids will coincide with the winter solstice, the longest night of the year for the Northern Hemisphere. The solstice will occur at 10:27 p.m. ET, according to EarthSky, marking the sun's most southerly position.
The best time to view the meteors will be between 3 a.m. and dawn local time on Friday, after the moon has set, said the fireball report coordinator for the society, Robert Lunsford. The moon will be 74% full on the night of the peak, and will interfere with meteor viewing earlier in the evening with its bright light, according to the American Meteor Society. The meteor shower will be visible to sky-gazers in the Northern Hemisphere, and the more northerly the viewer is the better, since the radiant constellation will be higher in the sky earlier in the night for those in Alaska or Northern Canada, Lunsford said.
Unlike the Geminids, which offer a high rate of meteor sightings several days before and after the peak, the Ursids have a relatively short span of maximum activity. The rate of five to 10 meteors per hour will only be visible during the night and early morning hours of the peak, Lunsford said. A few days before and after the peak, the Ursids will produce around one meteor an hour, he said. The Ursids shower began in mid-December and will be active until December 24.
NGC 2264, also known as the "Christmas Tree Cluster," is captured in a new image that reveals a cosmic tree shape illuminated by stellar lights. This cluster of young stars, located about 2,500 light-years away from Earth in the Milky Way, has ages ranging from approximately one to five million years old. The stars within NGC 2264 vary in size, with some being smaller than the Sun and others containing about seven solar masses.
Newly released photos showcase the Christmas Tree Cluster and a celestial snow globe in outer space. "This meteor shower has at times produced 25 to 30 outbursts per hour. We don't anticipate that... But you never know," said Lunsford. If you missed the Geminids, "here's a chance to witness some meteoric activity before the year is over," he added.
You don't need any special equipment to view a meteor shower. NASA advises against using a telescope or binoculars because they have a limited field of view, and meteors can be seen all over the sky.
The Ursids meteor shower occurs annually and is unique in that its radiant, the point from which the meteors seem to originate, is not located in a zodiac constellation. Instead, the Ursids appear to come from the constellation Ursa Minor, also known as the Little Dipper.
Researchers can collect valuable information about the region of space within Earth's orbital path, including the density of debris clouds and the timing of Earth's passage through them, by recording the time, magnitude, and other characteristics of meteor sightings, according to Lunsford.
Captured by the NIRCam (Near-Infrared Camera) on NASA's James Webb Space Telescope, this image of Uranus reveals the planet and its rings with unprecedented clarity. The Webb image provides a stunning view of Uranus's seasonal north polar cap, showcasing the bright, white inner cap and the dark lane at the bottom of the polar cap. In addition, the image displays Uranus's faint inner and outer rings, including the elusive Zeta ring - the remarkably faint and diffuse ring closest to the planet.
NASA/ESA/CSA/ STScI
Uranus mysterious features on display in new Webb image
Lunsford explained, "Gathering enough people to log the time of meteor sightings helps us map out the cosmic dust in space and provides valuable insights into the production, location, and future expectations of meteor showers." He emphasized the importance of collecting data on lesser observed meteor showers like the Ursids, stating that even casual observers can contribute to research by reporting their sightings to the American Meteor Society through its website.
The Ursids are the last annual celestial event for this year, but the first meteor shower of 2024 is not too far offthe Quadrantids will peak during the morning of January 4.
