Want to watch a pre-Christmas meteor shower on Long Island? The Ursids will peak on the night of Thursday, December 22 to Friday, December 23, 2022. Because the moon will not be a factor, viewing should be good but expect to see only about 7 to ten meteors per hour so patience is a virtue when observing the Ursids.
- Peak night: Thursday, December 22 to Friday, December 23, 2022.
- Moon phase: Waning crescent on December 22. New moon is December 23. The Ursids will be peaking during the New moon so it shouldn’t interfere with the show this year.
- Sky location: The Ursids will seem to come from the Little Dipper (Ursa Minor).
- How many meteors: Expect to see seven to 10 meteors per hour.
- When to watch: The night of Thursday, December 22 into the morning of Friday, December 23. The meteor shower will be active all night but experts say the best viewing time is in the predawn hours.
- Where do they come from: The comet 8P/Tuttle is the source of the Ursids.
- Where to observe: Find a dark spot or a park and get yourself a chair, a hot cup of coffee (or something a bit, ahem, stronger, and enjoy.
- Equipment needed: Bring warm clothes, the aforementioned hot drink, and a reclining chair. You don’t need a telescope or binoculars as you want to take in the widest view of the sky possible.