Ursid meteor shower 2025: Date, India timings, visibility, best camera phones to capture it and more

As the year draws closer to its end, the night sky is preparing a special farewell for sky lovers. Those who missed the popular Geminid meteor shower earlier this month have another reason to step outside after sunset. The Ursids meteor shower marks the final major meteor event of the year. As per the reports, the Ursid meteor shower is to peak on the nights of Monday and Tuesday, offering a calm yet beautiful celestial show.

For Indian sky watchers, this is one of the best chances to enjoy a natural light show with very little effort. All you need is a dark spot, clear skies, and a bit of patience. Many people also love clicking the meteors, and today’s camera phones make the process much easier. With night mode, a steady hand, and a wide lens, you can catch beautiful streaks of light without needing a professional camera.

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Why does the Ursid meteor shower occur?

The Ursid meteor shower occurs as Earth passes through dust and debris left behind by comet 8P Tuttle. As these tiny particles enter Earth’s atmosphere, they burn up and appear as bright streaks of light. When at its peak, the shower can produce up to 10 meteors per hour. However, please note that the number can vary depending on the location, weather and light conditions of your area.

The American Meteor Society also stated that the Ursid meteor shower usually produces modest but steady activity. The meteors appear to come from the constellation Ursa Minor, also known as the Little Dipper, which gives the shower its name. This meteor shower coincides with the winter solstice, which marks the longest night of the year. Because the night lasts longer, observers get more time to watch the sky. This makes the Ursids a fitting natural event to welcome the winter season.

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When to watch the Ursid meteor shower in India?

The Ursid meteor shower is expected to give a peak show on the night of December 22 and the early morning of December 23. For the Indian stargazers, the timings of the peak meteor shower may vary depending on the city they’re in. Sky watchers in Delhi are advised to look up between 5.30 pm and 10.30 pm, with the best chances around 10.30 pm. In Kolkata, the ideal window is from 4.30 pm to 9.30 pm. Mumbai viewers can watch between 8.30 pm and 10.30 pm. In Chennai, the recommended time is 5.30 pm to 9.30 pm, while in Hyderabad it is from 5.30 pm to 10.30 pm.

Tips to get the best view of the Ursid meteor shower in India

Here are some easy tips to get the best possible view of the Ursid meteor shower: 

• Find a dark and open location away from city lights and noise.
• No telescope or special equipment is required to watch the Ursid meteor shower.
• Let your eyes have at least 20–30 minutes to adapt to the darkness.
• Avoid looking at phone screens or bright lights during this time.
• While the shower radiates from the Ursa Minor constellation, meteors can appear anywhere across the sky, so keep looking around.
• Be patient, as the Ursid are a modest meteor shower, so meteors may appear at irregular intervals. Staying longer increases your chances of spotting more.

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Best camera phones to capture the Ursid meteor shower in India

While you can always use a DSLR to capture the meteor showers, the cameras of the latest smartphones are not very far behind. If you have one of the latest camera focus devices, you can easily capture this last meteor shower for the year 2025.  Modern flagship phones now offer advanced sensors, enhanced low-light performance, and powerful computational photography features that make them excellent tools for night-sky photography. Here are some of the devices we recommend to be used for capturing the Ursid meteor shower:

• Vivo X300 Pro with Teleconverter Kit
• Xiaomi 15 Ultra with Teleconverter Kit
• Oppo Find X9 Pro with Teleconverter Kit
• Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra

However, even if you’re using a normal camera device, you can still capture good photos by following the steps below:

• Turn on night mode and choose the longest exposure time.
• Set your phone on a small tripod or another stable surface.
• Aim it at an open area of the sky, far from bright lights.
• Tap the screen to focus on something far away.
• Shoot many photos in a row to increase your chances of capturing a meteor.