ABU DHABI // The night sky will be putting on a special show this weekend for those willing to brave the hot and humid conditions.
Astronomers are predicting the annual Perseid meteor shower – one of the most impressive on the celestial calendar – will provide stargazers with an even greater light show this year than before.
Showing up every year in August when the Earth crosses a comet’s dust trail, the Perseid usually produce between 60 to 100 meteors per hour.
This frequency is expected to double this weekend as a result of Jupiter’s pull on the comet’s trail, said one astronomer.
“We can expect to see up to 200 meteors per hour of all colours, sizes and brightness levels,” said Marwan Shwaiki, manager of Sharjah’s Planetarium.
Mr Shwaiki said although the debris falling into the atmosphere during meteor showers averaged only a millimetre in diameter, the speed with which they enter the atmosphere – about 50,000 kph – created the visible shooting star effect.
This year’s event will also involve a higher frequency of fireballs, brighter flashes caused by larger pieces of comet dust, said Hasan Al Hariri, chief executive of the Dubai Astronomy Group.
“These produce a spectacular view crossing a big portion of the sky. They are brighter than city lights so they will be visible to even those on the city,” he said.
Accounting for the different colours of the meteors will be the elements that they consist of, which can include nickel, iron and rock and water in the form of ice.
As a result of the heatwave, Mr Al Hariri said, his group had cancelled their annual public Perseid showing, which was traditionally held at Bab Al Shams resort.
He advised those braving the heat of the desert to take precautions, including travelling in a group of at least three cars, taking enough water, and telling others where you were heading.
“Because temperatures will be close to 35°C when the showers begin we are advising people to watch the shower from the cities, where the fireballs will still be visible,” he said.
For those venturing outside the city, Mr Shwaiki recommended minimising light pollution by travelling at least 50 kilometres from the nearest city, then lying down to take in as much of the sky possible, looking toward the Perseus constellation in the north-east, and allowing at least 30 to 45 minutes for your eyes to adjust to the dark.
The peak of the shower will commence in the early hours of Friday, with the ideal time beginning as the Moon sets at 12.32am.
The Perseid climax is set to continue into Friday night and early Saturday but will begin to wane on Saturday night and Sunday morning.
Mr Al Hariri said he would be available for questions and discussion at the Dubai Astronomy Group Office at Mushrif Park in Dubai on Friday from 6pm to 10pm
tsubaihi@thenational.ae
