December's overlooked meteor shower peaks next week — will the Ursids surprise us?

December's overlooked meteor shower peaks next week — will the Ursids surprise us?

The overlooked Ursids peak Dec. 21–22 with dark skies and modest rates. Here's when to watch and why surprises are possible.

Dark skies set the stage as Ursid meteor shower returns

FORT MCMURRAY — A quiet but reliable meteor shower begins tonight, giving skywatchers in northern Alberta a chance to catch the Ursids under some of the darkest skies of the year. The Ursid meteor shower runs annually from about Dec. 13 to Dec. 24 and is now becoming visible in the night sky, with its peak expected in the early morning hours of Dec. 22. Observers may begin spotting meteors late Sunday night and into the predawn hours, with activ…