UAE Night Sky Will See Breathtaking Peak Of Geminid Meteor Shower & Here’s Everything To Know

by Shrestha Purkayastha
UAE Night Sky Will See Breathtaking Peak Of Geminid Meteor Shower & Here’s Everything To Know

The Geminid meteor shower in December is frequently regarded as the most spectacular of the year. The skies of the United Arab Emirates will be illuminated with shooting stars, which will climax on December 13th. On Monday night, when the dazzling Geminids peak, sky gazers will be treated to roughly 120 meteors per hour. The Geminids shower occurs every year from December 4 to 16, with the peak occurring on December 13 and 14. The Geminid meteor shower, which is regarded as one of the most prolific of the year, peaks after dark on December 13th.

Except For Antarctica, The Shower Will Be Seen All Around The World

Because the meteors appear to emanate from the constellation Gemini in the sky, the shower is named after it. Meteors should be seen across the sky, though the radiant of the shower will appear 58 degrees above your north-eastern horizon around midnight in the UAE. Because the radiant will be high in the sky, you may be able to see roughly 120 meteors every hour, enhancing your chances of seeing meteors. Except for Antarctica, the shower will be seen all around the world. During this time of year, which receives 24 hours of sunlight every day.

Picture Credits: Khaleej Times

Asteroid Debris Creates Geminids, Which Are Multicoloured

Geminids are generated by asteroid debris known as 3200 Phaethon, according to Sarath Raj, Project Director of the Amity University Dubai Satellite Ground Station & Programme Leader of Aerospace Engineering at Amity University Dubai. The Phaethon has lost its outer shell and is now thought to be extinct. As a result, Phaethon’s fragments will be small and rocky, taking longer to burn as they descend into the atmosphere. Geminids become brighter as a result, with an apparent magnitude range of -5 to +1. Geminids are also multicoloured, owing to the presence of traces of metals such as sodium and calcium in the debris.

Also Read: 5 Stargazing Spots In The UAE That Must Be On Your List

One Of The Most Active And Reliable Meteor Showers Is The Geminids

With a peak activity meteor count of around 120 meteors per hour, the meteor velocity will be 78,000 mph (35 km/s). One of the most active and dependable meteor showers is the Geminids. For stargazers, the best time to visit is around the middle of December. Hasan Al Hariri, CEO of the Dubai Astronomy Group, stated that viewing a meteor shower does not require any special equipment or a high level of ability. All you need is a dark sight and a clear sky.

Picture Credits: gulfnews.com

These Meteor Showers Have A Long History

The Geminid meteor shower is over 200 years old, according to legend. The first recorded observation was made in 1833 from a Mississippi River riverboat, and it is still going strong today. In fact, it’s becoming more powerful. Because of Jupiter’s gravity, the stream of particles from the shower’s source, the asteroid 3200 Phaethon, has been dragged away from the shower’s source. Over the years, we’ve become closer to the Earth.

Also Read: A Stunning Meteor Shower Is Expected To Hit The UAE Skies Tonight

What To Look For And Where To Look

On Monday, December 13, 2021, the Dubai Astronomy Group will host a ‘Geminids Meteor Shower camp’ at Al Razeen Desert in Abu Dhabi, where participants will receive amazing training on ‘Decoding the Night Sky’ from renowned astronomers and have the opportunity to view a meteor shower and other celestial bodies and deep sky objects using a telescope and laser marking of stars. Lectures, demonstrations, and Q&A sessions about stars and the universe will also be held.