Latest news with #Khadijah Ahmed
The National
3 days ago
- Science
- The National
UAE skywatchers prepare for rare total lunar eclipse, supermoons and meteor showers
The remaining months of the year will bring a series of dazzling celestial events to the UAE, from a total lunar eclipse to three supermoons in a row. The first half of the year was quiet for skywatchers, with only a handful of minor events to light up the sky. Even the much-anticipated Perseids meteor shower this week was dimmed because of a bright full Moon. 'The next half of 2025 is going to be spectacular for stargazers … It's going to be a fantastic few months under the stars,' Khadijah Ahmed, operations manager at the Dubai Astronomy Group, told The National. Rare total lunar eclipse Next month, the Moon will pass completely into Earth's shadow, on the night of September 7, creating a rare total lunar eclipse. Often called a Blood Moon because of its coppery-red hue, it will be visible across the UAE and will be the longest event of its kind since 2022. The total eclipse will occur at 9.30pm GST and last for about 20 minutes. Ms Ahmed said it will be one of the most striking lunar events in recent years and can be enjoyed without any special equipment. 'This is one of the rare astronomical events happening in the UAE in 2025,' she said. 'We will host an event for the eclipse and encourage everyone to witness it. You don't need any special equipment – just go outside and look up.' The eclipse will also be visible in other parts of Asia, Australia, Africa and Europe. Supermoon season Supermoon season will follow soon after, with three back-to-back appearances in October, November and December. These take place when a full moon coincides with the Moon's closest point to Earth in its orbit, making it appear brighter and slightly larger than usual. The first will rise on October 7, known as the Hunter's Moon, followed by the Beaver Moon on November 5 and the Cold Moon on December 4. All three will be visible across the UAE, with moonrise just after sunset providing opportunities for photography and outdoor viewing. Meteor showers The Orionids meteor shower will light up the skies on October 21 and 22, followed by the Leonids on November 17 and 18. Geminids will be the final meteor shower of the year, peaking on December 13 and 14. It is among the best to observe, with 120 visible meteors each hour when the event is at its most intense. 'These meteor showers are visible without any equipment and are best viewed away from city lights,' said Ms Ahmed. The Dubai Astronomy Group usually holds viewing events for a fee for most of the meteor showers, with telescopes available. Additionally, the positions of Saturn on September 21 and Jupiter on December 7 will offer ideal opportunities to view these planets at their brightest and closest to Earth.
The National
12-08-2025
- Science
- The National
'Fireball' Perseids meteor shower to peak tonight in UAE skies
Stargazers in the UAE will be able to spot the Perseids meteor shower tonight and into the early hours of Wednesday, as the celestial event reaches its peak. The showers, however, may be fainter than usual this year because of a full moon that could reduce visibility of the meteors. They might have been slightly more visible on the night of July 24 when the showers first started, with moonless conditions. Khadijah Ahmed, operations manager at Dubai Astronomy Group, said the Perseids meteor shower takes place when Earth passes through the densest part of the debris trail left by Comet Swift-Tuttle. 'Unfortunately, there is a full moon just before the Perseid peak in August, meaning bright moonlight will wash out many meteors during the peak nights, but that's when you typically get 60 to 100 meteors per hour under moonless conditions.' The Perseids are one of the most anticipated meteor showers of the year, which produces bright streaks of light as the particles burn up in the atmosphere, with the most intense activity typically on August 12 and 13. The Dubai Astronomy Group will host a stargazing event on August 12 in Jebel Jais in Ras Al Khaimah for the public, with tickets priced at Dh200 ($54) per adult. 'We'll focus more on stargazing, observing all the visible objects in the sky with a sideshow of the meteor,' said Ms Ahmed. 'As the meteor shower will continue till late August, we might host another event depending on the weather to observe the meteors on moonless nights.' Mohamed Usama Ismail, lead of optical astronomy and tours at Al Sadeem Astronomy in Abu Dhabi, said viewing the Perseids comes down to 'timing and luck'. He said visibility can vary from year to year. 'Last year, it was a bit strange,' he said. "People came to observe the Perseids on August 12 and 13 but didn't see much. I wasn't sure why. Then, on August 14, a group visited and saw no fewer than 50 meteors, so it's all about luck.' There have been reports in recent years that the Perseids' intensity is declining and that the shower may not produce as many meteors as it once did. Astronomers believe the showers are weaker now because thicker parts of the comet's debris, which caused intense displays of meteors in the 1990s, have slowly spread out over time, causing fewer visible meteors today. Al Sadeem Astronomy is not hosting a specific event for public viewing of the meteor shower, but tours of its observatory are available regularly. After the showers, the next celestial event set to take place in the UAE will be a total lunar eclipse, appearing in the skies on September 7. The Moon will pass through Earth's shadow, turning a deep reddish colour. 'This is one of the rare astronomical events happening in the UAE in 2025,' said Ms Ahmed. 'We will host an event for the eclipse and encourage everyone to witness it. You don't need any special equipment – just go outside and look up." The first supermoon of the year, the Hunter's Supermoon, will appear on October 7, followed by the Beaver on November 5 and the Cold Supermoon on December 4. There are more meteor showers after the Perseids, including the Orionids' peak on October 21 and 22, followed by the Leonids, peaking on November 17 and 18. The best meteor shower and often the most visible, the Geminids, will peak on December 13 and 14. Perseids meteor showers - in pictures
