While it might be one of the coldest nights of the year in Metro Vancouver, it is also the longest — and that allows plenty of time for stargazing during the peak of a meteor shower.
With only a few cloudy periods included in Wednesday night's (Dec. 21) forecast, sky-watchers have nearly ideal conditions to watch shooting stars on the winter solstice.
Although it isn't as productive as the last meteor shower was -- the Geminids can produce up to 120 meteors per hour in "perfect conditions" -- the Ursid meteor shower can produce occasional outbursts with upwards of 25 shooting stars hourly, according to the American Meteor Society.
Typically, the Ursids produce about five to 10 meteors per hour at its peak (still enough for several wishes).
While some meteor showers are visible worldwide, the Ursids are a "northern hemisphere event" because its "radiant fails to clear the horizon or does so simultaneously with the start of morning twilight as seen from the southern tropics."
The shower commenced around Dec. 13 and will stay active until Christmas Eve (Dec. 24). Fewer meteors will be visible as the shower winds down, however.
Meteor shower 2022 in Vancouver: Viewing tips for seeing shooting stars
The Ursids got their name because they look like they "fan out" from around the "bright orange star Kochab, in the constellation of Ursa Minor, the Little Bear," according to Space.com.
In the Little Dipper constellation, orange-hued Kochab is the brighter of the two outer stars in the bowl; the other one is Pherkad.
As with any shower, you should find an area further away from light pollution in the city. While this works best in more remote places, anywhere that has a higher elevation will also provide more ideal viewing conditions. Since it takes place overnight in December, you'll want to prepare for colder conditions. Bring a sleeping bag, blanket, or lawn chair.
To fully enjoy the spectacle, here are a few more tips for meteor hunting:
- If you need to use a flashlight, place a red filter over the bulb (a red balloon will do in a bind). White light is very blinding and may affect your night vision.
- Dress warmly. It is still a good idea to bring warm (even winter) clothes.
- Sit back and relax on a reclining chair or lie down on a blanket. Not only is it much more comfortable to observe the stars lying down, but you'll also see more that way.
- Pack a thermos of hot chocolate or coffee—it will come in handy if you start to drift off or get a little chilly!
- Be patient. It might take a while before you see your first shooting star. Don't be quick to give up... It's worth the wait!
