Geminids Meteor Shower in The UAE: Where To Watch and Everything Else You Need To Know
Transforming the nation’s night sky into an incandescent celestial marvel, the annual astronomical phenomenon will take your breath away
The Geminids Meteor Shower, one of the most spectacular and highly anticipated astronomical events of 2023, will occur on the evening of December 14, 2023 in the United Arab Emirates.
According to NASA, the annual meteor show peaks during mid-December each year. An extremely rare astronomical phenomenon, the Geminids Meteor Shower originates from the asteroid 3200 Phaethon whilst the majority of meteor showers emanate from comets. Producing up to 120 multicoloured meteors or “shooting stars” per hour at its peak – that is, on the night of December 14, 2023 in the UAE – the Geminids Meteor Shower is expected to illuminate the sky with an incandescent multicoloured hue.
Geminids Meteor Shower in The UAE: Where To Watch and Everything Else You Need To Know
Gazing Conditions
The Geminids are best observed and most evident during the night hours and predawn period. In order to observe the Geminids, one must find a dark area devoid of city lights or street lights—such as a desert in the UAE.
It is important to note that patience is of the essence, as your eyes will only begin to pick up on the meteors after approximately 30 minutes in the dark. The shower typically starts at around 10pm.
A Brief History of The Geminids
The astronomical phenomenon was first observed in the mid-1800s, but its first showers were insignificant as they produced only 10 to 20 meteors per hour. Today, the Geminids are one of the most spectacular and major annual meteor showers in the universe. At peak hours, around 120 bright and fast Geminid meteors are observable per hour—provided that the gazing conditions are suitable.
Constellation Gemini: The Geminids Meteor Shower’s Radiant
The precise point in the sky from which the Geminids appear to emanate, or their “radiant,” is the constellation Gemini—hence their name.
However, it is important to note that the constellation is not the source of the meteors, but purely serves to identify which meteor shower in particular takes place on any given night. In addition, the Geminids are evident throughout the entire night sky as opposed to one specific area.
Where to watch the Geminids Meteor Shower in Dubai?
The Dubai Astronomy Group is hosting an informative and insightful Geminids Meteor Shower gazing event at Al Qudra Desert on the evening of December 14, 2023, from 10pm to 2am.
To register for the event, please visit their website.
Lead image courtesy of @urosfink and @natanielsart on Instagram