Latest news with #DubaiAstronomyGroup
Khaleej Times
22-05-2025
- Climate
- Khaleej Times
UAE: When will summer start? Longest day, shortest night of the year to fall in June
With the cold season long gone, UAE residents are feeling the heat as the sun's rays beat down. This year recorded one of the hottest Aprils (so far) in the decade, along with a reduction in rainfall, according to the National Centre of Meteorology. As people shed their winter coats for lighter florals, has summer begun yet? While calendar and temperature trends may not align with the astronomical onset, the hot season is, astronomically, yet to begin. June 21 marks summer solstice in UAE, according to Dubai Astronomy Group. A summer solstice is "the moment when the Sun reaches its highest and northernmost point in the sky", said Khadijah Al Hariri, Operations Manager at DAG. This also marks the longest day and shortest night of the year. The summer solstice occurs "because Earth's tilt is most directly angled toward the Sun at that time," Khadijah added. NCM previously shared tips on how to beat the heat. These guidelines help residents enjoy the outdoors safely:
Time Out Dubai
09-05-2025
- Science
- Time Out Dubai
Where to spot the Milky Way in the UAE this summer
Calling all stargazers, here's a summertime treat that you don't want to miss. The Milky Way is set to be visible from the UAE for five months, meaning there's no excuse not to catch a glimpse of the galaxy. Becoming clearer in the night sky from May all the way until October, the spectacle will be bright enough that you won't need a telescope to watch it either. If you like this: Stargazing in Dubai: Full line-up of astronomical events in 2025 Although you can spot the Milky Way with your own eyes, there's a high chance you'll never spot it in the city. For the best view, a spokesperson for the Dubai Astronomy Group said that areas have clear skies with low light pollution, and humidity offer the best conditions for viewing. And new moon phases also provide a better view. The best views can be seen away from the city lights in dark sky locations such as Al Quaa, Al Razeen or parts of the desert around Al Ain. Dubai Astronomy Group will regularly host astrophotography sessions and take people out to the desert for stargazing sessions. Wondering where to head for an evening of gazing up at the stars? Check out some of our top picks below. Stargazing spots in the UAE Al Quaa Milky Way Spot A quiet and open spot (away from night pollution) is always a good bet for stargazing. Around 90 minutes from Abu Dhabi towards Al Ain, is the Al Quaa Milky Way Spot. You'll need a 4×4 to get there and be adept at desert driving. It has its own location tag on Google Maps (23.604633,54.750256.) and is one place where you are sure to see something mesmerizing in the sky. Free. Open 24 hours, 7 days a week. Abu Dhabi. Al Qudra Desert A regular spot for Dubai Astronomy's stargazing events, this desert can be found to the east of Dubai. You can also head here on your own accord and set up camp for a night under the stars. Shuweihat Island If you are interested in seeing a place that looks spectacular day or night, then Shuweihat Island is a must. Around a four-hour drive from Dubai, you'll find salt flats and serenity. A 4×4 car is recommended when visiting. Free. Shuwaihat island. Hatta Hajar mountain location Hatta, which is just an hour and a half away from Dubai, can be a good spot to see the night sky, but as the spot isn't as deep into the wilderness as some of the others, there may be some light. In other Dubai news Emirates employees are getting a huge bonus and we're impressed It comes after a record-breaking year Primark is coming to Dubai — Here's where and when you can shop Calling all shoppers When is Islamic New Year and will we get a day off? The UAE public holiday is coming soon
What's On
08-05-2025
- What's On
Here's where you can spot the Milky Way in the UAE for the next five months
Milky Way sightings in the UAE come with summer… UAE residents are in for a treat this summer, as for the next five months, the Milky Way galaxy will be visible in the night sky. Also known as the Galactic River, the galaxy's main arm and core will be visible late at night, with the clearest and highest period for viewing being the months of July and August. As such, the galaxy is visible from May through October, and offers a stunning celestial sight which is as beautiful as it is rare. The location… Ahmed Hassan, Technical Director and Astrophotographer at Dubai Astronomy Group, told Khaleej Times that the best location to get a clear view of the Milky Way is Al Qua'a in Abu Dhabi. This is sort of a central point, the closest dark-sky site to most cities in the country. Drivers have been instructed to follow a compact dirt path after leaving the paved road, which will lead to an open area suitable for observation. They are also advised to park a small distance away and walk the rest of it through the sand to prevent lights and dust from the car to cloud the view. Optimal viewing conditions… The best viewing conditions include a clear sky with no cloud cover, no moon, low wind and minimal dust. Light rain might be beneficial, as it clears the air, after which the view will be the best. Areas that are away from the light pollution of the cities are the most suitable spots, at least 35km away from city lights. The galaxy will be visible to the naked eye after about 20 minutes in darkness, which is why eager observers are advised to reach the site with some time to spare, to allow their eyes to get used to the darkness. Images: Unsplash > Sign up for FREE to get exclusive updates that you are interested in
Gulf Insider
27-04-2025
- Science
- Gulf Insider
Look: UAE Residents Capture Rare 22° Halo Around Sun; Did You See It Too?
On Saturday afternoon, UAE's skies were lit up by a breathtaking celestial display — a rare 22°C halo. The stunning solar halo formed a perfect, luminous ring around the sun, creating a magical scene that left onlookers in awe. According to Ibrahim Al Jarwan, Chairman of the Board of Directors at the Emirates Astronomical Society, the optical phenomenon occurs when sunlight refracts through ice crystals in high, thin clouds like cirrus clouds. One of those lucky enough to capture the spectacle was Ralph Emerson B. De Peralta, a 51-year-old engineer and long-time UAE resident. While Ibrahim spotted the phenomenon in Sharjah, Ralph did so from Abu Dhabi. 'Yesterday, while I was inside my room, I happened to glance outside my window and noticed a distinct, glowing ring around the sun,' De Peralta shared. 'Recognising it immediately as a sun halo — a rare sight especially in the UAE — I quickly grabbed my camera and rushed outside, even though it was already around 1pm and extremely hot.' Using a pathway lined with large trees as a natural frame, he managed to snap stunning photographs of the phenomenon. Check out the photos below: When asked how he instantly recognised the halo, De Peralta said, 'I've always been fascinated by sky phenomena like the stars, the Milky Way, the moon, and the sun. My wife even jokes that I should have been an astrophysicist!' Watch the video of the sun halo below as shared by Emerson: How does a sun halo occur? Sun halos are caused by sunlight passing through millions of tiny ice crystals in high cirrostratus clouds. These hexagonal ice crystals form these clouds. So, when sunlight gets refracted through those ice crystals a circular ring of light is created around the Sun. The angle — 22° — is the angular radius of the corona we see around the Sun, not the angle of refraction of the light. This phenomenon could also be an indication of changes in weather conditions, like an approaching low pressure system. Is it related to the recent sun storm? Khadija Al Hariri, operations manager at the Dubai Astronomy Group, explained that sun halos are unrelated to recent solar storms. 'Sun halos are caused by ice crystals in Earth's atmosphere bending sunlight. Solar storms are caused by activity on the sun — like solar flares and coronal mass ejections — that send charged particles toward Earth, potentially affecting satellites, power grids, and creating auroras,' she explained. 'This phenomenon is rare in the UAE because it's usually too hot and dry for the high-altitude ice crystals needed to form a sun halo,' she said. 'It doesn't have any direct impact on the sun or space activity — it's purely a local atmospheric observation.' Ralph mentioned that he last saw the sun halo about two years ago when he was walking around the Al Maryah Island. Aside from UAE, the rare phenomenon also graced the skies of Aseer in Saudi Arabia on Saturday morning.
Khaleej Times
24-04-2025
- Science
- Khaleej Times
Smiley face in UAE skies? Experts explain viral social media posts
Social media pages have been abuzz with news that a rare smiley face will be seen in the sky on April 25 — thanks to an alignment of Venus, Saturn and the moon. But is the sky really going to smile on us? Or is it all just a hyped-up tale? UAE astronomers clarified that while there be a visible alignment of these celestial bodies, its appearance will vary depending on time and the observer's location. In the UAE and across the Middle East, the event will occur before sunrise on April 25, and "will appear as a relatively straight line in the sky — rather than resembling a smiley face," according to Ibrahim Ghounaimat, member of International Astronomical Centre. "The media coverage has overgeneralised, referencing a configuration that might resemble a smile only in very specific locations," according to Khadija Al Hariri, operations manager at Dubai Astronomy Group. As seen in the images below, Venus is high above, Saturn is on the side, and the Moon is a thin crescent near the horizon. There is no curvature in their arrangement, "so this definitely isn't a smiley face alignment in the UAE," she added. "Observers in parts of West Africa, North America, and South America may witness an alignment that loosely resembles a smiley face," Ibrahim said. So what is really happening in the sky? According to Nasa, around April 24 and 25, skywatchers can see Venus, Saturn, and the crescent moon gathered low in the east. If observers have a clear, unobstructed view of the horizon, they might also be able to see Mercury very low in the sky. However, the apparent distance between Venus and Saturn, compared to the crescent Moon, is relatively wide — so it "will not form a tight smiley face," Ibrahim added. While UAE residents can not see the "smiley face," residents watched the Lyrid meteor shower light up the skies from April 21 to 22, and a pink moon earlier in the month, with April being full of celestial wonders.
