# Ursids meteor shower 2026 and 2027

> When the Ursids peak in 2026 and 2027, how much moonlight there will be, and the best time to watch from the UK. Calculated, not copied.

URL: https://www.starseeduk.co.uk/meteor-showers/ursids
Updated: 2026-10-30

The Ursids are active 17 – 26 December each year, with a peak rate of about 10 meteors an hour under perfect dark skies. They come from comet 8P/Tuttle. In 2027 the peak falls on 22 December, with some moonlight, so fainter meteors will be lost for part of the night.

## Ursids peak dates for the UK

Peak times are worked out from the Sun's position along its path (the solar longitude the International Meteor Organization gives for the peak), so they are accurate to within a few hours. Real peaks can arrive early or late. 'Best time' is the hour when the radiant is highest while the sky is properly dark.

| Year | Peak (UK time) | Moon at peak | Best time from London |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026 | Tue 22 December (around 13:20 GMT) | Waxing gibbous, 96% lit | 06:00 GMT, radiant about 62° up |
| 2027 | Wed 22 December (around 19:11 GMT) | Waning crescent, 25% lit | 06:00 GMT, radiant about 62° up |

## What to expect

The rate of about 10 an hour is the zenithal hourly rate, a figure for a perfectly dark sky with the radiant overhead. From a UK garden you will usually see a third to a half of that, fewer near towns or under moonlight. Ursids enter the atmosphere at about 33 km per second.

The radiant near the Little Dipper never sets from the UK and is highest before dawn.

## History and origin

A small shower around the winter solstice. Most years it gives a handful of meteors an hour, with occasional bursts.

The meteors are specks of dust shed by comet 8P/Tuttle. When Earth crosses that dust each year, the grains burn up about 80 to 100 km overhead.

## How to watch

- Find somewhere away from streetlights, ideally with a wide view of the sky. Our [UK dark sky spots by county](https://www.starseeduk.co.uk/dark-skies) list designated places near you.
- Give your eyes 20 minutes to adapt, and keep your phone on a dim red screen.
- Lie back on a reclining chair and look about two-thirds of the way up the sky, not straight at the radiant.
- Dress for twice as cold as you expect, and bring a hot drink.
- Check the [moon calendar](https://www.starseeduk.co.uk/moon-calendar) for the phase, and the weather forecast for cloud.

## Folklore and tradition

Shooting stars have long been seen as signs. A common British wish custom is to make a wish before the meteor fades and keep it secret. Others saw them as souls passing, or as a sign of good luck for the year. We share these as folklore, part of why people have always loved a night under the stars.

## Questions

**When do the Ursids peak in 2027?**

Around 22 December 2027, near 19:11 GMT UK time. Watch the nights either side too.

**How many Ursids will I see?**

The peak rate is about 10 an hour under perfect skies. From a typical UK site, expect a fraction of that, depending on darkness and moonlight.

**Will the moon spoil the Ursids in 2027?**

At the 2027 peak the moon is 25% lit (waning crescent), so expect some moonlight, so fainter meteors will be lost for part of the night.

**What causes the Ursids?**

Dust from comet 8P/Tuttle, burning up as Earth passes through it.

**Do I need a telescope to see the Ursids?**

No. Meteors move too fast and across too much of the sky. Your eyes are the best instrument.

## Related

- [All meteor showers](https://www.starseeduk.co.uk/meteor-showers)
- [Meteor shower calendar 2027](https://www.starseeduk.co.uk/meteor-showers/2027)
- [UK dark sky spots](https://www.starseeduk.co.uk/dark-skies)
- [Moon calendar](https://www.starseeduk.co.uk/moon-calendar)
- [UK stargazing calendar](https://www.starseeduk.co.uk/guides/uk-stargazing-calendar-2026-27)

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