People across Switzerland are set to be treated to quite an early present in the lead-up to Christmas, with the Ursid meteor shower set to peak in the early morning of December 22 - let’s hope the weather plays ball this time!
While it did start on December 13, the Ursid meteor shower is due to peak over Switzerland on December 21 and 22. The early robin catches the freshest of frosty worms, so if you want to see the skies at their starriest then you’ll have to be up at 4am on both days. However, the shower is likely to be just as spectacular on the night of December 21, though you may see fewer meteors.
Stargazers across Swiss cities and cantons will be happy to learn that the shower should be largely free of natural light pollution. During the peak, the moon should have set, darkening the night sky and making the shooting stars even brighter.
The meteors themselves are caused by debris left behind by the comet 8P / Tuttle. At the peak, up to 150 shooting stars are expected each hour, with most radiating from the Umi star in the Ursa Minor constellation - the constellation where the meteor shower gets its name.
After the magnificence of both the Perseids and the Geminids meteor showers were shrouded in clouds for most across Switzerland this year, let's hope that conditions are perfect to see the stunning natural wonders that are the Ursids!
For your best chance of getting a glimpse of a shooting star, head out of the city to an area with little to no artificial light. Avoid looking at your mobile phone, as this can make it harder for your eyes to adjust to the dark, and keep your fingers and toes crossed that the conditions stay clear!