Ursids 2026: peak on 22 December, Moon 98% lit

The Ursids peak on 22 December and are active from 17 December to 26 December. At the peak the Moon will be 98% lit: poor (moon) conditions. From Madrid, the best time is around 23:57 CET, with about 1 meteors per hour under a dark sky.

Short peak: high activity lasts only a few hours, around 23:17 CET (CET).

Peak: 22 December
Active: 17 December – 26 December
Peak rate (ZHR): 10 per hour
Moon at peak: 98% ·Poor (Moon)
Radiant: Ursa Minor (RA 217°, Dec +76°)
Speed: 33 km/s
Parent body: 8P/Tuttle

In 2027: peak on 23 December, Moon 21% lit.

Peak night in your city

City	Best time	Meteors/hour*	Radiant rises
MadridSpain	23:57 CET	1	All night
IstanbulTürkiye	02:15 TRT	1	All night
São PauloBrazil	Not visible
Mexico CityMexico	18:55 CST	<1	All night
Rio de JaneiroBrazil	Not visible
AnkaraTürkiye	02:11 TRT	1	All night
BursaTürkiye	02:16 TRT	1	All night
IzmirTürkiye	02:17 TRT	1	All night
Buenos AiresArgentina	Not visible
Belo HorizonteBrazil	Not visible

* Estimate for a dark rural sky, taking the radiant’s altitude and the Moon into account. From a city you will see far fewer. Local time for each city.

ZHR: meteors per hour with the radiant overhead and a perfectly dark sky. In practice you see fewer.

How to watch

No telescope or binoculars needed. Find a dark spot away from lights, lie back looking at the highest part of the sky and give your eyes 20 minutes to adapt. Meteors appear in every direction; their trails point back to the radiant.

All meteor showers →

Frequently asked questions

What time are the most Ursids visible?

When the radiant is high and the sky is dark, usually in the second half of the night. From Madrid, on the peak night the best time is around 23:57 CET.

Will the Moon interfere?

At the peak the Moon will be 98% lit. Above 65 % with the Moon high, faint meteors are lost; try watching when the Moon is below the horizon, or with your back to it.

Source and accuracy

Parameters from the IMO (International Meteor Organization), 2026–2027 calendar. The peak time is computed from the solar longitude; meteors per hour for each city are our own estimate.
IAU 015 URS

Methodology