If you skipped the NYE fireworks in the city, you can still enjoy an incredible light show – and this one’s all natural.
On Friday January 3, the Quadrantid Meteor Shower will light up the UAE sky. Said to be one of the best annual meteor showers in the world, it is one of the biggest celestial events in the UAE until at least August 2025, so don’t miss out.
Pack your snacks, grab a carpet, bundle up and head to Al Qudra to watch the sky sparkle.
What is the Quadrantids Meteor Shower?
The Quadrantid Meteor Shower originates from an asteroid or a ‘rock comet’ called 2003 EH1, which was discovered in March 2003.
This ‘rocky body’ which behaves similarly to a comet, sheds debris as it orbits the Sun leaving a path behind it. And when Earth passes through this trail each January, the particles burn up in the atmosphere, creating bright beautiful streaks of light across the midnight blue sky – this is the Quadrantid Meteor Shower.
When can you watch it?
Timing is key for the Quadrantid Meteor Shower because it has a very short peak. Unlike other showers that last for days, the Quadrantids are at their best for just a few hours, so expect the best visibility from 11pm on Friday January 3 into the early hours of Saturday January 4.
Pro tip: If you’re planning to watch the meteor shower on your own, download a stargazing app – it allows you to check for celestial bodies and clusters in the sky.
What’s a stargazing app we hear you ask? It’s a map of the sky, letting you point your phone above you and be told exactly what stars, planets or meteors you’re looking at. It will even help you out on the best parts of the sky to watch, and peak meteor timings.
Where can you watch it?
The Dubai Astronomy Group is hosting a viewing at Al Qudra desert where you can gaze at stars up until the wee hours for Dhs150.
Get a closer look at celestial objects through a telescope, learn about the meteors from expert guides and enjoy a short lecture on the Quadrantids. If you’re fascinated by the beauty and the magnitude of the cosmos, be sure to grab your ticket.
Up for chasing lights? You know we are.
Dhs150 per person. Fri Jan 3, 11pm-3am. Al Qudra Desert, dubaiastronomy.com.
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