120 Shooting Stars per Hour: GCC Skies To Light Up With Geminids Meteor Shower
More than 100 shooting stars per hour will streak across the night sky over the GCC next week as the Geminids meteor shower peaks. Active from November 19 to December 24, the Geminids are considered one of the most stunning astronomical events of the year. The cosmic show will peak on Thursday, December 14, and appear even brighter as the moon won’t be visible.
“The Geminids are considered to be one of the most spectacular meteor showers of the year, with the possibility of sighting around 120 meteors per hour at their peak,” the Dubai Astronomy Group said.
Described as “one of the best and most reliable annual meteor showers” by Nasa, stargazers don’t need special equipment or skills to view the Geminids. Just find a viewing spot away from the city and street lights—a desert, for instance—lie flat on your back and look up. According to Nasa, “after about 30 minutes in the dark, your eyes will adapt, and you will begin to see meteors.”. It will be cold in the desert, so wear warm clothes.
The Geminids are bright and fast meteors, reaching speeds of up to 127,000 kmph. They “tend to be yellow in colour,” Nasa said.
For a guided tour experience, multiple groups in the UAE will organise viewing sessions.
When rocks from space enter Earth’s atmosphere and burn up, they appear as streaks of light in the night sky. These shooting stars are called meteors.
According to Nasa, the Geminids first began appearing in the mid-1800s. “However, the first showers were not noteworthy, with only 10 to 20 meteors seen per hour. Since then, the Geminids have grown to become one of the major meteor showers of the year.”
