UAE Perseids Meteor Shower Peak August 12 Viewing Guide and Photography Tips

Experience an extraordinary celestial event as the Perseids meteor shower reaches its peak over the UAE on August 12 and 13. This annual spectacle, visible from mid-July through late August, features bright meteors and occasional fireballs—exceptionally luminous meteors brighter than Venus, sometimes accompanied by sound. Despite a bright moon complicating visibility this year, these spectacular fireballs will remain prominent. According to the Dubai Astronomy Group, optimal viewing occurs after midnight until dawn from dark, remote locations away from city lights. Stargazing requires no equipment—meteors are visible to the naked eye. Patience and a 20-30 minute adaptation to darkness are recommended. On August 12, a special Perseids viewing event will be held at Jebel Jais from 11 pm to 3 am, featuring guided stargazing, telescope observations, storytelling, and expert commentary in one of the country's highest dark-sky locations. The Perseids originate from debris left by Comet Swift–Tuttle, which enters Earth's atmosphere at 59 km/s, creating streaks of light as it burns up. Named after the constellation Perseus, these meteors appear to radiate from that point in the sky. The...