Baja Californian astronomy fans and aficionados, rejoice! Earth’s sky is preparing for the 2nd and last meteor shower of the year and this Mexican state will be the perfect place to watch this stellar spectacle.

The meteor shower known as Ursids will finish off the year this December with a show full of space lights which will be seen all across the northern hemisphere, including Mexico, the United States, Canada, Europe, Asia, and some areas in Northern Africa. In the southern hemisphere, visibility will be limited because the radiant stays below the horizon.

Ursids will be active between December 17 and 26, and its peak will take place on December 22. During this event, you will be able to see 10 meteors per hour. The Ursids meteor shower radiates from the constellation Ursa Minor, close to the Beta Ursae Minoris star (known as Kochab).

These stars are fragments from periodic comet 8P/Tuttle, whose dust and particles remain in Earth's orbit, creating a light phenomenon when they enter the atmosphere. The best time to see this meteor shower is just before dawn, when the radiant is at its highest in the sky.

Can the meteor shower be seen from Baja California?

Yes! Especially in rural areas that are far away from light pollution (e.g., Valle de Guadalupe, Sierra de Juárez, or the San Pedro Mártir region). These regions have clear skies during winter and few artificial lights, making them the ideal conditions to see meteor showers.