UAE Skies to Glow With Meteor Shower This August

Next week, the skies over the UAE will be illuminated by the rare Da Vinci Glow and the annual Perseid Meteor Shower. 

The Da Vinci Glow will be visible at sunset, presenting a unique astronomical phenomenon where a crescent moon is faintly illuminated by the outline of the full moon. This effect, named after the Renaissance polymath Leonardo da Vinci who first described it, promises a captivating visual display. 

Following the Da Vinci Glow, the desert’s clear skies and the diminishing lunar light will create optimal conditions for observing the Perseid Meteor Shower. This meteor shower, one of the most anticipated annual astronomical events, will peak around August 12th and the 13th, with dozens of meteors visible per hour. 

No specialized equipment is necessary to observe the Perseid Meteor Shower; a clear night sky and a comfortable viewing spot are sufficient. Meteors, commonly referred to as shooting stars, are fragments of rock and dust from comets and asteroids that burn up upon entering the Earth's atmosphere, creating visible streaks of light. 

This meteor shower is caused by debris from Comet Swift-Tuttle, which last passed by Earth in 1992. Although the Perseid Meteor Shower is an annual occurrence, it remains a significant event for astronomy enthusiasts. The next major meteor storm is not expected until 2028.