Monday, 25 Nov 2024

Ursids meteor shower to light up UK skies next week

We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info

Eyes to the skies, people, as for the next week you will be able to witness the Ursids meteor shower.

The Ursids are an annual meteor shower that is usually active between December 17 and Christmas Day.

The meteors are produced by ice and dust grains left behind by the comet Tuttle, which was first discovered in 1790.

The comet passes through our solar system on its journey around the sun every 13.5 years.

The Ursids are a sparse shower and produce around 5 to 10 meteors an hour.

It will be at its peak on Wednesday night, December 21, with novices and experts alike expected to spot around 10 per hour.

So, provided we have a clear night sky, you should be able to see the meteors with the naked eye.

You might spot some of its meteors intermingling with the Geminids shower, which runs from December 4 to December 20.

But the more meteors, the better – am I right?

https://www.youtube.com/embed/rVdniqc_G_Q

Make sure to wrap up warm if you choose to sit outside or go for a walk during the peak.

Also, make sure you are away from bright lights to give you the best chance of seeing the shower.

Looking forward to the end of the month and the beginning of the new year, the next meteor shower is the Quadrantids.

The Quadrantids began on December 28, 2022, and will culminate on January 12, 2023.

This year’s peak is expected to be late on Tuesday night, January 3, so head outside and bask in the almost full moon and witness the spectacular meteor shower.

On a clear night, the Quadrantid meteor shower, one of the strongest and most consistent meteor showers, can reach up to 120 meteors per hour.

Source: Read Full Article

Related Posts