The last meteor showers of the year: When to catch a glimpse

Wish upon a shooting star this Christmas
Maryam Kara24 November 2023

With the end of 2023 around the corner, only a few meteor shower viewing opportunities remain this year.

Luckily, one of the strongest showers of the year has not yet peaked.

Any of these showers may be spotted in the right conditions. Typically, this involves feet facing south when lying down, being in a location with limited light pollution, and remaining patient for eyes to adjust to the sight of showers amid the darkness.

Read about the captivating shooting stars below, including when to catch a glimpse through to the end of December so you don't miss out on a potential viewing.

Showers and when to view them

Geminids

One of the year's most impressive meteor showers is yet to peak in December.

While the Geminids meteor shower has already appeared during the sightings which begun on Sunday (November 19), it will become increasingly visible during the night of December 14, when as many as 150 meteors of various colours, including white, yellow, green, red, and blue, can be seen.

The meteors are only thought be intensifying year on year, so it is hardly a surprise that the shower has done more than impress since its initial discovery in 1862.

Viewers are advised to remain patient as it takes the eyes up to 30 minutes to adjust to the sight in the dark.

A Geminid meteor shower will light up the night sky
Danny Lawson / PA

Leonids

A Leonid shower will peak on the night of December 2 and can be best viewed around midnight. Every 33 years or so, stargazers can experience the beauty of a Leonid storm of thousands of meteors per hour, depending on the location of the observer.

A meteor storm is defined as having at least 1,000 meteors per hour. There was a spectacular sighting in 1966, and the last one was in in 2002.

However, 2023 is an average year, so you are only likely to see around 15.

Whilst you may be waiting a good few years for the next storm, Leonids are still mesmerising for their fireballs and Earth-grazer meteors which are larger explosions of light and colour persisting longer than an average meteor streak.

Alamy / PA

Leonids received their name as their light trails all appear to originate from the constellation of Leo.

A tip for viewers from Nasa: When gazing up towards the sky, avoid looking directly at the radiant, or you will find that the meteors will be short, an effect of perspective called foreshortening.

Ursids

The Ursid meteor shower will be active from December 17 and will peak through December 22 to December 23.

This is a low-key meteor shower, with a few meteors visible per hour, but they will appear across the entire sky. This year, they will be most visible in the predawn sky once they peak towards late December.

The shower's radiant is the constellation Ursa Minor, better known as The Little Dipper.

While the viewing experience can be incredible for lucky viewers, Ursids have long been considered one of December's weaker meteor showers, along with the Phoenicids.

PA

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