Geminids and Ursids: December Meteor Shower Peaks for North American Skywatchers

The Geminids and Ursids meteor showers are expected to peak on the nights of December 14 and December 22, offering a striking display for skywatchers in Canada and the United States. These annual meteor showers draw attention for their reliability and brightness, drawing careful observers to open skies away from city lights. The Geminids, in particular, are renowned for producing a strong, steady stream of meteors each year, making them a staple on many winter stargazing itineraries. In 2024, the period when the Geminids are most visible runs from early December into mid-month, with the peak concentrated on the night of December 14 as the radiant nears its most active point in the constellation Gemini. The radiant, the point in the sky from which meteors appear to emanate, is projected to be near the bright star Castor in Gemini, guiding observers to a broad swath of sky rather than a single line of fire. Even though this year’s conditions pose some challenges for Gemini watching, the experience remains worth planning around, especially for dedicated stargazers who can venture to darker, southeastern or western horizons where the sparkling arcs may tease the eye despite light pollution. The Geminids’ activity level translates to a moderate meteor rate, with an average stream speed around 35 kilometers per hour, which contributes to longer, slower-passing trails that are easier to track with an unaided eye or a simple camera setup. This cadence helps amateur astronomers capture short, bright streaks that light up the winter darkness and offer dramatic moments for observers who stay patient and still through the night. The Ursids, another reliable December shower, are expected to reach their maximum activity a little later, from December 21 through December 22. This shower tends to be steadier and is often visible during the longest night of the year in the Northern Hemisphere, when the extended darkness provides a generous window for watching. The Ursids originate from a different parent comet and tend to deliver a more modest, steady display compared to the Geminids, but the quiet, persistent showers can still produce memorable moments for observers who enjoy a slower, more thoughtful pace. Since the Ursids come from a point near the north, they are particularly accessible for stargazers across Canada and the northern United States who can benefit from the long night and clear, high-latitude skies. With the moon phase in mind, observers can maximize their chances by planning around times when the moon light is less intrusive. In late December, as the moon wanes toward a new phase, its brightness diminishes, reducing glare and allowing fainter meteors to stand out more clearly. For both showers, local weather remains a decisive factor. Clear, dark skies without cloud cover provide the best conditions for seeing the fine tracers of the Geminids and Ursids across a broad arc of the sky. Even in years with moonlight challenges, a well-timed viewing window during the darkest hours can yield a rich experience for night-sky enthusiasts, families, and photography hobbyists who want to capture the fleeting beauty of meteor fireballs streaking across the field of view. Guides for optimal viewing emphasize finding an unobstructed horizon, giving the eye time to adjust to the dark, and allowing multiple minutes of steady gaze for the most rewarding showers. While the Geminids often deliver more dramatic and numerous streaks, the Ursids reward patient observers with a more delicate, glassy trail that can shimmer in the cold air like distant diamonds. In either case, the best plan is to head to a location well away from city glow, bring a warm coat, a reclining chair, and optionally a simple camera with a wide-angle lens to capture wide swaths of sky as the meteors arc across the heavens. As the nights grow longer in December, both showers offer a reminder of the beauty and wonder of the natural world, inviting people to pause, look up, and enjoy the slow, silent ballet of space debris turning into brilliant comets of light in our sky.