If you live in the UAE and love stargazing, now is the perfect time to catch the Perseid meteor shower, one of the most spectacular and eagerly awaited celestial events of the year. Active from July 17 to August 23, the Perseids light up the night sky with bright streaks and fast-moving meteors, often visible without the need for any special equipment.
The Perseid meteor shower is famous for producing up to 100 meteors per hour during its peak, creating a dazzling display of “shooting stars” that race across the sky. These meteors are actually tiny debris left behind by Comet Swift-Tuttle, which enters Earth’s atmosphere at high speeds and burns up, creating bright flashes of light that captivate observers.
This year, the Perseids will reach their peak on the nights of August 12 and 13. However, there is a slight downside for skywatchers: the peak coincides with a nearly full moon, which means the moonlight will brighten the sky and potentially drown out many of the fainter meteors. Despite this, don’t be discouraged—there are still opportunities to witness the meteor shower on other nights with darker skies.
For the best viewing experience in the UAE, it’s ideal to head to wide-open areas away from city lights, such as the desert. The minimal light pollution in these locations allows for clearer and more vivid views of the meteors. Make sure to find a spot with a clear view of the northern sky, as the Perseids appear to radiate from the constellation Perseus, located in the northeast.
To enhance your experience, try to get comfortable, bring a reclining chair or blanket, and give your eyes about 20-30 minutes to adjust to the dark. Avoid using smartphones or other bright devices during the observation period to preserve night vision.
Whether you catch the peak night or other darker evenings during the shower’s active period, the Perseids offer a mesmerizing natural light show that’s not to be missed. So, grab some friends or family, and look up to enjoy one of nature’s most beautiful sky spectacles right from the heart of the UAE.
