Description

Disclaimer: Copyright infringement not intended.

Context

The Ursid meteor shower, the last celestial event of 2024, will light up the night skies in December. Peaking on the night of December 21 and 22, the spectacle perfectly aligns with the winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere.

Meteor Showers

Meteor showers occur when Earth passes through a stream of debris left behind by comets. As these particles enter Earth's atmosphere at high speed they burn up creating streaks of light in the sky known as "shooting stars" or meteors.

Ursid Meteor Shower

The Ursid Meteor Shower is an annual celestial event caused by Earth passing through the debris trail of Comet 8P/Tuttle.

The shower is named after the Ursa Minor constellation (Little Bear) because the meteors appear to radiate from this region, specifically near the star Beta Ursae Minoris (Kochab).

Feature	Details
Parent Body	Comet 8P/Tuttle
Radiant Point	Near Beta Ursae Minoris in Ursa Minor
Frequency	Annual
Peak Activity	December 21–22
Meteor Velocity	~33 km/s
Number of Meteors	5–10 meteors per hour on average

Comet 8P/Tuttle

Discovered in 1790 by Pierre Méchain.

It is a periodic comet with an orbital period of approximately 13.6 years.

As the comet orbits the Sun it sheds tiny particles that form the debris trail.

When Earth passes through this debris cloud in December the friction of particles with Earth’s atmosphere generates visible meteors.

Why the Ursids Are Significant?

While not as prominent as the Perseids or Geminids the Ursids mark the end of the meteor shower calendar for the year.

The Ursid meteor shower provides valuable data about Comet 8P/Tuttle and the evolution of cometary debris streams.

Ursid Meteor Shower vs. Other Meteor Showers

Meteor Shower	Peak Month	Hourly Rate	Meteor Speed	Parent Comet
Perseids	August	60–100	~59 km/s	109P/Swift-Tuttle
Geminids	December	120–150	~35 km/s	3200 Phaethon
Ursids	December	5–10	~33 km/s	8P/Tuttle
Quadrantids	January	60–120	~41 km/s	2003 EH1

Must read article: https://www.iasgyan.in/daily-current-affairs/perseid-meteor-41

Sources:

NDTV

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q.Consider the following statements regarding meteor showers:

The Perseids meteor shower occurs annually in August and is associated with the Swift-Tuttle comet.
The Leonids meteor shower occurs in November and originates from the debris of the Tempel-Tuttle comet.
Meteor showers occur when Earth passes through the debris left behind by asteroids.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

Answer: (a)

Explanation:

Statement 1 is correct. The Perseids meteor shower occurs every August and is associated with the Swift-Tuttle comet.

Statement 2 is correct. The Leonids meteor shower occurs in November and is caused by debris from the Tempel-Tuttle comet.

Statement 3 is incorrect. Meteor showers are typically caused when Earth passes through debris left behind by comets not asteroids.