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29 March 2024

Leonid meteor shower peaks tonight: How, where to watch in Dubai

Published
By Shuchita Kapur

UAE skywatchers are in a for a treat tonight as the ongoing Leonid Meteor Shower peaks around midnight of November 16, producing a modest 10 to 15 meteors per hour in the darkness before dawn.

Hopefully the dark clouds will keep away for a while to allow us to spot a bevy of meteors in the clear night skies. Dubai and parts of the UAE witnessed medium to heavy showers over the weekend, and dark clouds can still be seen in the sky.

The Leonid shower, however, isn’t as striking as the Preseid meteor shower, which dazzled UAE skywatchers earlier this year in August.

Read: Dazzling Perseid meteor shower peaks tonight: How, where to watch in Dubai 

Still, those in Dubai can witness this celestial marvel with Dubai Astronomy Group, which is hosting a Leonid meteor shower viewing event (starts 9pm) and an astrophotography workshop (starts 10pm) tonight (Nov. 16) at the Showka Dam (pre-registration required).

For those who can’t or don’t wish to make the 100km or so trek from Dubai, just curl up in a warm blanket or comforter in your backyard after dark, get a flask of coffee, and keep an eye on the night sky to spot the intermittent shooting stars.

According to Nasa, the meteor shower will be visible with the naked eye as it radiates from a point within the constellation Leo the Lion (hence the name ‘Leonid’).

Viewing tips

• Find an area well away from bright lights that can dampen your experience of the night sky. Do take a mat or sleeping bag or a lawn chair, as well as a blanket to keep you cosy. It is summers, but the night can get windy and if you’re in the open, it may get a little chilly too.

• Lie flat on your back and look up, taking in as much of the sky as possible.

• Don’t lose hope if you don’t see anything immediately – the human eye takes time to adjust, and after about 30 minutes in the dark, your eyes will adapt and you should begin to see meteors.

• Be patient – the show will last until dawn, so you have plenty of time to catch a glimpse.

• And last but not least – have fun.

(Image via Shutterstock)