Latest news with #Al-Rawahi
Muscat Daily
10-08-2025
- Science
- Muscat Daily
Perseid meteor shower to light up Oman's night sky on Tuesday
Muscat – The skies of the Sultanate of Oman are witnessing the Perseid meteor shower, which can be seen with the naked eye in various governorates, especially in dark locations away from lights. The shower will continue until August 24, and will reach its peak on Tuesday evening until the early hours of Wednesday. It is one of the most attractive astronomical phenomena for astronomical observation and photography enthusiasts around the world. Commenting on this phenomenon, Amjad bin Ja'ad al Rawahy, a member of the Omani Society for Astronomy and Space, said: Meteor showers occur when the Earth, in its orbit around the sun, passes close to the path of a comet, passing through a horde of meteoroid particles left behind in space by that comet. He added in a statement to the Oman News Agency: 'As for the Perseid shower, its source is the famous comet Swift-Tuttle, which orbits the sun approximately once every 133 years. Its nucleus is about 26 kilometers in diameter. When the Earth passes close to its remnants, dust particles and small pieces—some no larger than a grain of sand—enter the atmosphere at a tremendous speed of up to 72 kilometers per second. They collide with air molecules and burn, generating bright streaks of light across the sky. ' Al-Rawahi explained that the meteors produced by this phenomenon can be faint or extremely bright, explaining that the very bright meteors are known as 'fireballs,' and they are one of the most prominent features that distinguish the Perseids from other meteor showers. Studies indicate that the number of fireballs produced by this shower exceeds that of any other meteor shower. He explained that the Perseid meteor shower begins annually around July 17 and continues until August 24, reaching its peak on the night of August 12 through the morning of August 13. Under ideal conditions, between 80 and 100 meteors can be seen per hour. However, under normal conditions within cities or with the moon present, the number seen may be much lower. Al-Rawahy pointed out that the success of the observation process depends on two main factors: the height of the radiant point – which is the apparent region from which meteors originate and is located in the Perseus constellation in the northeastern part of the sky – and the extent of the sky's darkness and lack of light pollution. He explained that the Perseids' peak this year coincides with a waning gibbous moon phase with an illumination rate of approximately 84%, which may obscure many of the fainter meteors. He noted that bright meteors, or those appearing far from the moon, will remain visible to the eye. Regarding the best time to view the Perseids, Al Rawahy said: 'The best time is from after midnight until just before dawn, when the radiant point has risen high in the sky and moved away from the horizon, which increases the chances of seeing a greater number of meteors, especially in open and elevated locations as far away as possible from artificial lights and obstacles such as trees and buildings, while allowing the eyes to adapt to the darkness for at least 20 minutes before observing.' He stressed that this period also witnesses the appearance of some prominent celestial bodies that can be observed with meteors, such as the giant planet Jupiter and the planet Saturn with its distinctive rings, in addition to the bright star Capella and some beautiful star clusters in the summer sky, giving astrophotographers the opportunity to capture dazzling scenes. Al-Rawahy concluded by saying: 'Watching meteor showers, especially the Perseids, doesn't require any special equipment. It's an amazing visual experience that anyone can enjoy with the naked eye, provided they choose the right place and time. It's an opportunity to contemplate the beauty and vastness of the universe, and a reminder of just a small part of the constant movement of celestial bodies around
Times of Oman
03-05-2025
- Automotive
- Times of Oman
Fifth place for Oman rally team's Al-Rawahi in gruelling Rally Saudi Arabia
JEDDAH (SAUDI ARABIA): Abdullah Al-Rawahi overcame a series of flat tyres to finish fifth overall in the inaugural Jeddah-based Rally Saudi Arabia on Saturday. The Omani teamed up with British co-driver Ross Whittock and tackled two days of demanding action across new special stages to the east and north of the Red Sea city. The Oman Rally Team driver's progress in his Autotek Škoda Fabia RS was hampered by a series of flat tyres on Friday and more time lost on the penultimate stage on Saturday. But he was regularly third quickest on individual gravel stages behind eventual winner Nasser Saleh Al-Attiyah and Finnish runner-up Juho Hänninen. The points haul keeps him in contention for the Drivers' Championship as the 2025 FIA Middle East Rally Championship reached its halfway point. Al-Rawahi said: 'It has been a disappointing rally for us. A lot of punctures. We are not sure why because we are not hitting rocks sideways. I don't know if it is luck or something to do with the tyres. We have a different compound tyre to Nasser but this is all we have. Today's stages were a bit more open but everyone was cutting.' The second day of Rally Saudi Arabia used three special stages to the north of Jeddah that were repeated twice. Al-Rawahi began the day in fifth overall and consolidated that position after the opening Al-Ghulah stage. He set the fourth fastest time on the first pass through Asfan and closed in on fourth-placed Abdulaziz Al-Kuwari, who sustained a puncture. The Omani was third quickest through the Thahban special and headed back to the service point in Jeddah well clear of sixth-placed Hamza Bakhashab and still within striking distance of Al-Kuwari in fourth. He was third quickest again on the re-run of the Al-Ghulah stage but further tyre woes cost him vital time in the penultimate stage. But Al-Rawahi finished the event on a high note with the second quickest time on the concluding Power Stage to secure additional points towards his regional championship campaign. The Oman Rally Team has received vital backing from Al-Manar Investments, the Oman Automobile Association, WMS, Zamakan, OQ, Strike, Size, the Ministry of Youth, Sport and Culture of Oman and National Finance. Round four of the 2025 FIA Middle East Rally Championship takes place in Jordan on May 29th-31st. 2025 Rally Saudi Arabia – positions after SS12 1. Nasser Saleh Al-Attiyah (QAT)/Candido Carrera (ESP) Škoda Fabia RS Rally 2 1hr 34min 05.5sec 2. Juho Hänninen (FIN)/Janni Hussi (FIN) Toyota GR Yaris Rally 2 1hr 35min 42.9sec* 3. Rakan Al-Rashed (KSA)/Hugo Magalhães (POR) Toyota GR Yaris Rally 2 1hr 39min 08.9sec 4. Abdulaziz Al-Kuwari (QAT)/Lorcan Moore (IRL) Citroën C3 Rally 2 1hr 40min 06.4sec 5. Abdullah Al-Rawahi (OMA)/Ross Whittock (GBR) Škoda Fabia RS Rally 2 1hr 43min 11.8sec 6. Hamza Bakhashab (KSA)/Marcin Pasek (POL) Can-Am Maverick R (SSV) 1hr 47min 11.7sec 7. Nasser Khalifa Al-Attiyah (QAT)/Ziad Chehab (LBN) Ford Fiesta Mk II Rally 2 1hr 49min 56.9sec 8. Abdullah Al-Zubair (OMA)/Taha Al-Zadjali (OMA) Subaru Impreza WRX Sti 1hr 55min 18.9sec 9. Bassel Abu Hamdan (KSA)/Firas Elias (LBN) Škoda Fabia Rally 2 2hr 00min 43.5sec 10. Rashid Al-Muhannadi (QAT)/Szymon Gospodarczyk (POL) Peugeot 208 Rally 4 2hr 02min 18.0sec 11. Shadi El Fakih (LBN)/Joseph Kmeid (LBN) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X 2hr 02min 43.6sec 12. Ihab Al-Shurafa (JOR)/Ahmad Jankhout (JOR) Škoda Fabia RS Rally 2 2hr 02min 54.5sec 13. Zakariya Al-Aamri (OMA)/Mohammed Al-Mazroui (OMA) Subaru Impreza WRX Sti 2hr 07min 11.5sec 14. Shadi Shaban (JOR)/Samer Issa (JOR) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX (NAT) 2hr 11min 38.7sec 15. Mohammed Al-Marri (QAT)/Giovanni/Bernacchini (ITA) Peugeot 208 Rally 4 2hr 48min 27.0sec
