10-08-2025
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
