Overview
- Most outlets place the peak on Monday night, December 22, though Astronomy Magazine lists an earlier peak on the morning of December 21.
- Observers under dark skies can expect roughly 5–10 meteors per hour, making this a modest but reliable shower.
- Best viewing is late night to pre-dawn; look toward the northern sky near Ursa Minor and plan to watch for at least an hour.
- The Moon is a slender waxing crescent that should not hinder visibility, with patchy cloud forecast across much of the UK and broadly better conditions reported for much of the US.
- The meteors come from debris shed by comet 8P/Tuttle, and skywatchers may also try for Comet 24P/Schaumasse before dawn on December 23 near the Virgo Cluster.