Geminids: the most visible meteor showers peak tonight in UAE - here's how to watch them

There will be about 120 Geminid meteors shooting across the skies every hour

People watch the Perseid meteor shower at Al Qudra in Dubai in August. Tonight's Geminid event should be visible with the naked eye. Pawan Singh / The National

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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