Perseid meteor shower 2021: When and where to watch in the UAE tonight

Fifty to 100 meteors will be visible every hour

A meteor streaks through the night sky, past planet Mars (C, left), during the Perseids meteor shower over the lake of Kozjak, Macedonia, in August 2018. Georgi Licovski / EPA

A long exposure image shows Stars revolving around the North Star during a 'Night of falling stars' on the Col de la Givrine, near Saint-Cergue, Switzerland, in August 2018. Salvatore Di Nolfi / EPA

The Perseids meteor shower is seen over San Miguel de Aguayo, Spain, in August 2017. Pedro Puente Hoyos / EPA

A Perseids meteor illuminates the dark sky near Comillas in northern Spain in August 2017. Cesar Manso / AFP

A Perseids meteor shower burns up in the atmosphere behind a Catholic church near the village of Rubezhevichi, some 50 km from Minsk, Belarus, in August 2017. Tatyana Zenkovich / EPA

A girl lies in hammock as she looks at the milky way during the peak of Perseid meteor shower in Kozjak, Macedonia, in August 2018. Ognen Teofilovski / Reuters

People in the UAE will be treated to a special show tonight, as the Earth passes through the trail of the comet Swift-Tuttle.

The annual occurrence, known as the Perseid meteor shower, is one of the brightest, with 50 to 100 meteors seen every hour.

Hasan Al Hariri, chief executive of Dubai Astronomy Group, said as pebble-sized pieces of debris hit Earth’s atmosphere, they burn up and create bright sparks.

The Moon should be absent from the sky most of the night meaning we should have a pristine, dark backdrop. For the best show, you should view it from a place with little or no light pollution

Hasan Al Hariri,
Dubai Astronomy Group

The dazzling show will be visible in UAE skies from late night on August 12 until the early hours of the morning on August 13.

“This is one of the brightest meteor showers and it will not disappoint,” Mr Al Hariri said.

“The Moon should be absent from the sky most of the night, meaning we should have a pristine, dark backdrop.

“For the best show, you should view it from a place with little or no light pollution.

“It will be most visible after midnight and the showers should continue until about 4am.”

A previous event put on by Dubai Astronomy Group of the Geminid meteor shower. Chris Whiteoak / The National

The meteor shower is one of the most interesting things to see in the night sky during the summer months.

It is called the Perseids because the meteors seem to originate from the constellation of Perseus

Dubai Astronomy Group will host a special event to mark the occasion on August 12 into August 13.

“The humidity and heat during this time can make outdoor events challenging so this year we will be hosting an observation event on Jebel Jais mountain," Mr Al Hariri said.

“The temperature will be low so it will be a very pleasant viewing.

“We encourage residents to book a space via our website as we have limited availability.”

The Dubai Astronomy Group will be on the mountain from 8pm until 4am. The evening will include a talk and a chance to view the meteor shower through the group's telescopes, though it will be visible to the naked eye.