Did you miss the Geminid meteor shower earlier this month? Don't worry, as there's still a stargazing opportunity before Christmas. The Ursid meteor shower, the final one of the year, is expected to peak in the early hours of Sunday, December 22.

While the Ursids aren't typically very active, ideal viewing conditions could yield up to 10 meteors per hour, according to In-the-Sky.org. However, with the last quarter moon this year, you may only see about five meteors per hour. Nevertheless, it's worth noting that in past years, the Ursids have surprised observers with displays of up to 100 meteors per hour, such as in 1945, 1968, and 1973.

The Ursids derive their name from their radiant point in the sky, located in the constellation Ursa Minor (the Little Dipper). The meteors are actually debris from comet 8P/Tuttle, which burns up as Earth passes through its trail of remnants.

If you're planning to watch the shower in 2024, here's what you need to know:

Best Time to See the Ursid Meteor Shower: The Ursids are visible from December 17 to December 26, with the peak occurring in the early hours of December 22. The best viewing time will be just before dawn on the 22nd, when the radiant will be highest in the sky.

Viewing Conditions This Year: Unfortunately, the moon will be quite bright this year, nearing its last quarter phase at 54% illumination. Its brightness could obscure the dimmer meteors, so expect a less spectacular show.

To catch a glimpse of the shower, find a dark location with a clear view of the sky. Allow your eyes to adjust to the darkness and look upwards — it's better not to focus directly on the radiant, as meteors will appear to move away from it.

What’s Next? After the Ursids, the next meteor shower will be the Quadrantids, peaking on the night of January 2 into the morning of January 3, 2025.