Super Worm Moon in UAE: Residents enjoy lunar spectacle

Stargazers in the UAE witnessed the second super moon of the year late on Monday.

The lunar spectacle - dubbed the 'Super Worm Moon' - started rising from the east at about 5.11pm.

It became its biggest and brightest at about 6.30pm, said Hasan Al Hariri from Dubai Astronomy Group.

Clearly visible across the Emirates, the astronomical phenomena meant the Moon appeared about “eight to 10 per cent larger than normal”, he said.

“It will be a very gradual process and the increase in size is only small, but it will be beautiful nonetheless,” Mr Al Hariri said.

“We always say the best position to view the Moon is when it is in the centre of the sky, but people will likely fail to see a big size difference, so it is best to catch a glimpse of it as it is still rising.”

Mr Al Hariri said the event was just one of “four super moon sightings to take place in 2020”.

The first occurred last month and the remaining two will take place in April and May. However, he said the 'Super Worm Moon' would present some of the best viewing from the UAE.

Mr Al Hariri recommended viewing the Moon from areas with little to no light pollution.

“The weather should be clear enough for people to see throughout the evening, but scattered cloud could impact visibility in some areas,” he said early on Monday.

“We will be live streaming the event on the Dubai Astronomy Group’s YouTube page as we have postponed all gatherings in line with government directives due to the Covid-19 outbreak.”

According to Nasa, the 'Super Worm Moon' is named due to its occurrence at a time of the year when earthworm casts appear as the ground thaws in cold countries.

It is the latest celestial event to capture the imagination of residents.

DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES. 09 MARCH 2020. Supermoon seen from Palm Jumeirah. (Photo: Reem Mohammed/The National) Reporter: Section:

On December 26 last year, UAE residents turned out in their droves to see the rare solar eclipse, which was last visible in the country in 1847.

As the moon passed across the centre of the sun, it left an impressive ring of light which delighted stargazers across the country, including Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammad, the Crown Prince of Dubai, who posted the live event on his social media.

Ultra processed foods

- Carbonated drinks, sweet or savoury packaged snacks, confectionery, mass-produced packaged breads and buns

- margarines and spreads; cookies, biscuits, pastries, cakes, and cake mixes, breakfast cereals, cereal and energy bars;

- energy drinks, milk drinks, fruit yoghurts and fruit drinks, cocoa drinks, meat and chicken extracts and instant sauces

- infant formulas and follow-on milks, health and slimming products such as powdered or fortified meal and dish substitutes,

- many ready-to-heat products including pre-prepared pies and pasta and pizza dishes, poultry and fish nuggets and sticks, sausages, burgers, hot dogs, and other reconstituted meat products, powdered and packaged instant soups, noodles and desserts.

ENGLAND SQUAD

For first two Test in India Joe Root (captain), Jofra Archer, Moeen Ali, James Anderson , Dom Bess, Stuart Broad , Rory Burns, Jos Buttler, Zak Crawley, Ben Foakes, Dan Lawrence, Jack Leach, Dom Sibley, Ben Stokes, Olly Stone, Chris Woakes. Reserves James Bracey, Mason Crane, Saqib Mahmood, Matthew Parkinson, Ollie Robinson, Amar Virdi.

Milestones on the road to union

1970

October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.

December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.

1971

March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.

July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.

July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.

August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.

August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.

September 3: Qatar becomes independent.

November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.

November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.

November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.

November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties

December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.

December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.

December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.