photo #8860523

☄️ Before we wrap up the year, the night sky has one last gift for us. The Ursid Meteor Shower is peaking, and for the first time in years, the conditions are nearly perfect.Here is your observing guide for the 2025 Ursids:🗓️ When to Watch: The peak activity occurs on the night of December 21–22 and the early morning of December 23. 🌑 Moon Situation: Excellent news! With the New Moon having just passed on December 20, the sky will be pitch black. A thin crescent moon will set early in the evening, leaving the entire night dark for meteor hunting. 🌍 Visibility: This is strictly a Northern Hemisphere show. The radiant is near the celestial north pole, meaning it doesn't rise for our friends in the Southern Hemisphere. 🔭 What to Expect: The Ursids are a low-key shower, producing up to 10 meteors per hour. However, they are known for occasional outbursts, and with zero moonlight interference, you might catch faint meteors usually hidden by glare.How to View:🧥Bundle up—it is the Winter Solstice, the longest (and often coldest) night of the year! 🌌 Look North toward the Little Dipper (Ursa Minor). The meteors radiate from near the star Kochab.👀 Give your eyes 20 minutes to adjust to the darkness.Clear skies to all for the last show of the year! 🔭🌌