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The National
2 days ago
- Science
- The National
Perseids meteor shower: When and where to view the dazzling show in UAE
Stargazers in the UAE may catch an early glimpse of the Perseids meteor shower on July 24, when moonless, darker skies offer a better chance of spotting shooting stars. While the annual showers typically dazzle in mid-August with up to 100 meteors an hour, this year's peak will coincide with a full moon. On Thursday, however, the Moon will be not be visible, creating ideal conditions for observing celestial events such as the Perseids, active from mid-July until late August. 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. 'On July 24, the shower is still building up, so you might only see 10 to 20 meteors per hour at best, depending on your location, sky conditions and darkness,' she told The National. '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. This year, however, conditions are not looking ideal because moonlight is likely to interfere with the shower's visibility. 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, whether on July 24 or during the August peak, 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.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Science
- Yahoo
Full moon could disrupt peak views of popular meteors. When to watch the Perseids
Stargazers, you'll soon have a chance to glimpse the year's most popular meteor shower streaking over Michigan skies, but the full moon could get in the way. The annual Perseids will peak in mid-August, leaving bursts of light and color up above as meteors whiz by throughout the night in the best meteor shower of 2025, according to NASA. However, you may want to plan for viewing on alternate days during the meteor shower to avoid any disruptions from the sturgeon moon, experts advise. Be sure to also keep a lookout for clear, dark, night skies to observe the Perseids. Here's what to know. When do the Perseids peak? The Perseid meteor shower will peak on the night of Aug. 12 overnight into the early morning hours of Aug. 13, per What else will be in August skies? The sturgeon moon will peak Aug. 9. What is the Perseid meteor shower? The Perseids is a strong, fast meteor shower featuring about 50 to 100 meteors per hour, per NASA. Bright meteors and fireballs, very bright meteors, frequently streak across the night sky, creating a path of light and color overhead. The meteors appear to come from the area of the constellation Perseus in the sky, NASA says, though the meteors can be seen in any part of the night sky, per the American Meteor Society. How will the full moon impact viewing chances? In 2025, the shower's peak will not meet these ideal conditions because the moon will be too bright, Robert Lunsford, the American Meteor Society's newsletter editor and fireball report coordinator, told USA TODAY. This year's peak will occur just three days after the full moon. When can you get a better glimpse of the Perseids? A good day to view the Perseid meteor shower is Thursday, July 24. That's when the new moon is, according to the Old Farmers' Almanac. This will make the night skies darker and optimal for stargazing. One of the best days to see meteors is on Wednesday, July 30, because two other meteor showers, alpha Capricornids and Southern delta Aquariids, will be happening at the same time, according to Lunsford. "With the moon bothering the Perseids this year, the last couple of days of July might be a good opportunity to see some meteors without any moon," Lunsford said. What causes the Perseids? Meteor showers occur when the Earth passes through dusty debris trails left by comets and broken asteroid bits as they orbit the sun, NASA says. The debris collides with Earth's atmosphere at high speed and disintegrates, creating fiery and colorful streaks in the sky. The meteors in the Perseid meteor shower come from comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle, a large comet discovered by American astronomers Lewis Swift and Horace Tuttle in 1862, per NASA. Italian astronomer Giovanni Schiaparelli uncovered the comet as the source of the Perseids in 1865. When is the best time to view the Perseids? The best time to watch the Perseids in the Northern Hemisphere is in the predawn hours, though meteors may be visible as early as 10 p.m., the space agency says. How can you see the Perseids in Michigan? To ensure the best chance of viewing this meteor shower, here are a few things the American Meteor Society, USA TODAY, BBC Sky at Night Magazine and recommend: Go to a dark area away from light pollution. Allow about 30 minutes to let your eyes adjust to the dark. Bring a deck chair or reclining chair to sit comfortably as you watch the meteors. Select an open viewing area for an unobstructed look at the sky. Avoid looking at phones or bright lights. Keep your eyes up on the sky to catch fast meteors, visible for a second or two as they whizz through the sky. Dress comfortably, warm for cold nights and bring a blanket. Keep a hot drink, water and snacks and bug spray with you. Where can you watch the Perseids in Michigan? Look for a clear, open area to view the meteors in Michigan's skies. Keep an eye on the weather forecast closer to the peak to find out local viewing chances. Michigan is home to six dark sky state parks, three international dark sky parks and an international dark sky sanctuary. The Alpena area has three Dark Sky Preserves: Rockport State Recreation Area, Thompson's Harbor State Park and Negwegon State Park. In Mackinaw City, Headlands International Dark Sky Park, 15675 Headlands Road. In Empire, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, 9922 Front St. In Munising, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. In Paradise, the Great Lakes Museum and Whitefish Point Light Station, 18335 N. Whitefish Point Road, and Tahquamenon Falls State Park at 41382 W. M-123. In Port Austin, Port Crescent State Park, 1775 Port Austin Road. In Clayton, Lake Hudson Recreation Area, 5505 Morey Hwy. In Carp Lake, Wilderness State Park, 903 Wilderness Park Drive. Keweenaw Dark Sky Park in Keweenaw County and Dr. T.K. Lawless Park in Cass County are international spots. And, finally, the Beaver Island State Wildlife Research Area is an international sanctuary. When did the Perseids begin? The Perseid meteor shower began activity July 17 per NASA. When will the Perseids end? The Perseid meteor shower will end Aug. 23, NASA says. How did the Perseid meteor shower get its name? The name Perseid meteor shower or Perseids comes from the Greek Perseidai, or sons of Perseus, referring to Greek mythology, according to the Old Farmer's Almanac. Meteor, meteorites, meteoroids — which is it? Those are words that sound similar, but there are important differences. Meteoroid: A body in space. Asteroids are larger rocks in space, but there's no official distinction. Meteor: A body passing through the atmosphere. If the meteor is large enough to show some dimensions or sparks, it's often called a fireball. Meteorite: A meteor that survives the fall to the Earth's surface. Meteor shower: When we see a lot of meteors streaking across the sky in a small amount of time, usually a matter of a few days. When is the next meteor shower in 2025? The Orionids will be active Oct. 2 to Nov. 12, peaking Oct. 22-23, according to the American Meteor Society. USA TODAY contributed. Contact Jenna Prestininzi: jprestininzi@ This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: How to see Perseids in Michigan, avoid full moon impact Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Science
- Yahoo
Don't Miss Jupiter and Venus in the Early Morning Sky This Week—Here's How to Spot Them
These planets will share the night sky with a waning crescent moon. From the northern lights to a stunning meteor shower, July has been an exciting time for stargazers. If you missed these celestial events, you will have another opportunity to catch a few more dazzling displays before the month ends. Early morning risers will want to head outside this week to see a pre-dawn display. Tomorrow morning, July 22, before sunrise, the waning crescent moon will lie between Venus and Jupiter. And on Wednesday, you'll find the moon below Venus and closer to Jupiter, according to EarthSky. Nearby, you'll also be able to spot the bright star Aldebaran, a first-magnitude star that shines with a distinct orange hue and marks the right eye of Taurus the Bull. Venus outshines Aldebaran by almost five magnitudes or a light ratio difference of almost 100-fold, according to To see the display, head out in the early morning hours (i.e. during the hours before sunrise) and look toward the east to see the moon and Venus. If you have a clear view toward the horizon, Jupiter can be seen low in the sky, rising in the hour before sunrise. According to NASA, Jupiter will rise a bit higher each day through August, quickly approaching Venus each morning. By mid-August, expect Venus and Jupiter to be super close, offering up another celestial show. Read the original article on Martha Stewart Solve the daily Crossword
CNET
2 days ago
- Science
- CNET
Bright Fireballs in the Skies: Catch the Perseids Meteor Shower This Week
Skygazers have a lot to look forward to over the next month. A couple of dueling meteor showers are gracing the skies later this month, and they will be joined by perhaps the most popular meteor shower of the year: the Perseids meteor shower. Perseids are known for their bright fireballs and plentiful meteors. The show started on July 17, and will run through Aug. 23. The reason the Perseids meteor shower is so popular is twofold. First, it takes place in the summer, so going outside and watching it is less uncomfortable than other large meteor showers like Quadrantids, which takes place in wintery January. The other reason is that it's one of the most active meteor showers of the year. During its peak, the meteor shower is known to spit as many as 100 meteors on average, according to the American Meteor Society. These not only include your typical shooting stars, but also a higher chance for fireballs, which are meteors that explode as they enter orbit. Per NASA, fireballs tend to last longer than standard shooting stars and can come in a variety of different colors. Perseids come to Earth courtesy of the 109P/Swift-Tuttle comet. Earth's orbit around the sun brings it through Swift-Tuttle's tail every year. The comet itself takes 133 years to orbit the sun. Its last perihelion -- the point at which it's the closest to the sun -- was in 1992. It won't be back until the year 2125. Until then, it leaves behind an excellent tail of dust and debris to feed us yearly meteor showers. How to watch the Perseids meteor shower The best time to view the Perseids is during its peak, which occurs on the evenings of Aug. 12 and 13. During this time, the shower will produce anywhere from 25 to 100 meteors per hour on average. However, since the shower officially lasts for over a month, you have a chance to see a shooting star on any given evening, provided that you're far enough away from light pollution. Thus, if you're planning on watching this year's Perseids during their peak, you'll want to get out of the city and suburbs as far as possible. According to Bill Cooke, lead of NASA's Meteoroid Environments Office, folks in the city might see one or two meteors from the meteor shower per hour, which is pocket change compared to what those outside city limits might see. Regardless, once you've arrived at wherever you want to watch the meteors, you'll want to direct your attention to the radiant, or the point at which the meteors will appear to originate. Like all meteors, Perseids are named after the constellation from which they appear. In this case, it's Perseus. Per Stellarium's free sky map, Perseus will rise from the northeastern horizon across the continental US on the evenings of Aug. 12 and 13. It'll then rise into the eastern sky, where it'll remain until after sunrise. So, in short, point yourself due east and you should be OK. Binoculars may help, but we recommend against telescopes since they'll restrict your view of the sky to a very small portion, which may hinder your meteor-sighting efforts. The American Meteor Society also notes that the moon may give viewers some difficulty. Perseids' peak occurs just three days after August's full moon, so the moon will still be mostly full. Thus, it is highly probable that light pollution from the moon may reduce the number of visible meteors by a hefty margin, depending on how things go.
Forbes
3 days ago
- Science
- Forbes
See The Perseid Meteor Shower Now Before It Peaks, Experts Say
A falling star crosses the night sky over Halle / Saale, eastern Germany, during the peak in ... More activity of the annual Perseids meteor shower on August 13, 2015. (Credit: HENDRIK SCHMIDT/AFP/Getty Images) The annual Perseid meteor shower is a highlight of the astronomical calendar. Its peak is still a few weeks away, but it began earlier this week — and so did a slew of poorly researched articles advising when to watch it. What almost no one else seems to realize is that this year, the normally prolific Perseids will generally disappoint because the peak rates of 'shooting stars' on Aug. 12-13 will occur in a night sky bleached by a near-full moon. Happily, all is not lost. Here's how and when to watch the Perseid meteor shower in 2025 — including what experts think is the best time to get a glimpse of it, despite the harsh sky conditions. The Problem With The Perseid Meteor Shower In 2025 The Perseids can produce about 75 'shooting stars' per hour on its peak night, but only in a dark sky. This year, under clear, dark skies with a wide-open view, observers might spot far fewer. 'I'd expect a typical person with a clear view of the full sky to be able to see somewhere in the ballpark of five to 10 meteors per hour during the night of August 12-13,' said Dr. Qicheng Zhang, astronomer at Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona, in an email. That's how huge impact of a bright gibbous moon is. It will be about 84%-lit and rise just as it starts to get dark. Why You Shouldn't Wait For The Perseid To Peak Although Aug. 12-13 is the peak night, meteors may be more easily visible on nights both before and after, when sky conditions are better. For example, this Thursday there's a New Moon, which occurs when our natural satellite is roughly between the Earth and the sun. That means it's invisible, leaving the night skies dark all night all of this week. Anytime after dark this week is therefore a great opportunity for viewing the Perseid meteor shower — especially with the Southern Delta Aquariid meteor shower peaking on July 29/30 — though expect rates of 'shooting stars' to be relatively low. 'A few meteors might be visible in the early morning on the first couple of days [of August]How And Where To See 'Shooting Stars' The advice for meteor showers is simple — get far from light pollution. If you intend to go looking for Perseids this week, or after the peak has passed, seeking out dark skies is essential. Aim for a wide, open space with minimal haze and obstructions to catch as many meteors as possible. However, for the peak night on Aug. 12-13 for the Perseids this year, that's not helpful advice. Even if you get as far from artificial lighting as possible on that peak night, you'll still find yourself under a sky similar to that of a city. Why You Need To Be Patient Seeing a meteor shower successfully means being patient. It also means not looking at a smartphone, whose white light instantly kills night vision. Add the worsening problem of light pollution, and it's easy to see why almost nobody ever sees 'shooting stars' these days. 'As with most annual meteor showers, observing meteors takes a lot of patience, and it may take watching for an hour or more to see a handful of meteors,' said Zhang. Also, any strong and sudden outbursts in meteor activity — which are hard to predict, but possible — may last only a few hours. "Because they're unpredictable in time, they require either a lot of luck or watching for many hours to have a reasonable chance of catching,' said Zhang. Wishing you clear skies and wide eyes.
