Latest: UAE sky full of 'shooting stars' as Geminids meteor shower puts on dazzling display
The most visible meteor showers of the year, the Geminids, will peak tonight in the UAE.
The annual celestial event will be at its most intense at 10pm until the early hours of Monday, local time.
With clear skies and no Moon interference expected during the peak hours, the showers should put on a dazzling display.
Astronomers in the UAE expect about 120 meteors per hour to shoot across the skies.
Geminids are leftovers of 3200 Phaethon, which is either an asteroid or extinct comet, according to US space agency Nasa. They are happening this year from December 4 to December 17, but reach their peak tonight.
The dust left behind by the space rock burns up in the Earth’s atmosphere, making the "shooting stars" visible to sky gazers.
The showers can be observed across the globe except Antarctica, which currently has 24 hours of sunlight.
The meteors can be viewed with the naked eye but should be observed in a location away from light pollution. The Dubai Astronomy Group is holding an event at Wadi Shawkah in Ras Al Khaimah that starts at 10pm. Telescopes will be available.
Other events are also being held by Mleiha Archaeological Centre, Sharjah and UAE Astronomy Group.
People must observe social distancing rules and wear masks.
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The Perseids meteor shower in UAE – in pictures
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The annual Perseids meteor showers draws a crowd of more than 150 stargazers to the Al Qudra desert to watch the show in August, 2020. Pawan Singh / The National -
Dubai Astronomy Group organised a stargazing event but hazy, cloudy and humid weather caused low visibility, making the meteors harder to see. Pawan Singh / The National -
When a meteorite reaches a certain magnitude, it turns into a 'fireball', with a large and bright red appearance. Pawan Singh / The National -
Advanced telescopes provided by Dubai Astronomy Group help members of the crowd observe different planets. Mars, Saturn and Jupiter are visible to the naked eye, but the telescopes give clearer views. Pawan Singh / The National -
Mars becomes visible each year, but is at its brightest from August to October. Pawan Singh / The National -
Residents in the UAE can still see Mars in the night sky. It appears as a bright red "dot". Pawan Singh / The National -
High levels of light pollution also caused low visibility of the meteor showers. Pawan Singh / The National -
Residents turn out to watch the Perseids meteor showers in Al Qudra desert, Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National -
The Perseids meteor showers were more visible in other parts of the world. Here are the meteors flying across the sky above a camping site at the Negev desert in Israel. AFP -
A meteor streaks past stars in the night sky above the Necropolis for the victims of Fascism, in Novi Travnik, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Reuters
