OBSERVING Celestial Calendar The Geminids & the Ursids The Moon messes with one shower, but another comes a week later. Ursid Meteor Shower CASSIOPEIA CEPHEUS Polaris Little Dipper This year Earth passes through the old reliable Geminid meteor stream right at full Moon; the shower is due to peak on the night of December 13-14. The Geminids are abundant enough that you're likely to see a few of the brightest ones through the moonlit sky, but you'll have to be patient. And the sky will be just too poor for a meaningful meteor count. We often Above: Although bright moonlight will wash the sky for the Geminid meteors this year, a few of the brightest always show through - such as this one Alan Dyer caught over New Mexico on December 12, 2014. Right: The Ursids fly in directions away from a spot near the bowl of the Little Dipper. The shower's radiant swings below Polaris from nightfall all through the evening. 48 December 2016 sky & telescope UR S A M I NOR Ursid radiant D R AC O Big Dipper Looking North at 7 p.m.