Ursids Meteor Shower · 2026
Ursids Meteor Shower
The Ursids are the quiet finale of the meteor year, peaking near the winter solstice on the night of Dec 21-22, 2026. It is a minor shower with a typical maximum of about 5 to 10 meteors per hour from Comet 8P/Tuttle, and its peak is sharp and brief. Because the radiant sits near the Little Dipper, it stays up all night for U.S. observers. In 2026 a nearly full Moon causes severe interference, so only a dedicated, well-dark-adapted observer at a site like Cherry Springs is likely to catch much.
Peak & active window
Peak night of Dec 21-22, 2026 (sharp maximum ~Dec 22); active Dec 17-26, 2026
Rate & parent body
ZHR ~10; typically 5-10/hr at maximum · Parent comet: 8P/Tuttle · Sharp, brief peak near the solstice · Nearly full Moon = severe interference in 2026
Where to watch
Any dark, low-light-pollution site with a clear view toward the northern sky works; the radiant near the Little Dipper (Ursa Minor) stays up all night for U.S. observers.
Nearest RV base
Cherry Springs State Park, PA - a renowned dark-sky park, but its Rustic Campground runs only mid-April through late-October, so in late December it is a day-use / event-only viewing site; the nearest winter RV base is a private campground in the surrounding Potter County area.
Watch it honestly
This is a low-count shower even at its best, and the nearly full 2026 Moon plus winter clouds and any light pollution will cut the real number sharply - keep expectations modest. Bundle up against the deep-December cold, face the northern sky, use no telescope, and give your eyes 20-30 minutes to dark-adapt. The sharp peak and clear skies are never guaranteed.
Confirm the peak timing and conditions with the source: Pennsylvania DCNR - Cherry Springs State Park .