Perseids meteor shower to light up UAE skies

Perseids meteor shower will illuminate the UAE skies in all its glory on Tuesday night, giving star gazers a feast for the eyes.

Despite some reduced visibility due to the Moon, Perseids meteors will still shine due to its distinct bright quality in comparison to other meteors, producing fireballs brighter than Venus

Dubai Astronomy group will host an observation deck at Ras Al Khaimah's Jebel Jais away from city lights, in an exclusive and serene mountain setting. It will include a guided session with telescope observations and constellation storytelling from 11pm to 3 am, with prices starting from AED 175.

Perseids occur yearly between July 17 and August 24 and tend to peak around August 9-13.

Made of tiny space debris from the comet Swift-Tuttle, the Perseids are named after the constellation Perseus. This is because the direction, or radiant, from which the shower seems to come in the sky lies in the same direction as Perseus.

The Perseids are widely sought after by astronomers and stargazers because most years at its peak, one can see 60 to 100 meteors in an hour from a dark place.