Stargazers in the UAE will gather at Mleiha desert on August 13 for expert-guided astronomy sessions, deep-sky telescoping, and astrophotography as the year’s most prolific meteor shower peaks.
SHARJAH, UAE : Astronomers and skywatchers across the United Arab Emirates are preparing for one of the year’s most spectacular celestial events, as the annual Perseids meteor shower reaches its peak density this August. To celebrate the event, the Mleiha Archaeological Centre in Sharjah announced a curated night-sky viewing experience hosted in the open desert, offering optimal conditions clear of urban light pollution.
The event, scheduled for August 13 from 6:30 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. at the Mleiha National Park camp site, is timed to coincide with the anticipated peak of the meteor shower. During peak hours, observers under dark skies can expect to see up to 100 meteors per hour streaking across the atmosphere.
Situated within the UNESCO World Heritage nomination site of the Faya Palaeolandscape, Mleiha’s unique geography—surrounded by red sand dunes and the surrounding mountain ridge—creates a natural buffer against light pollution. This isolation provides observers with exceptional clarity for night-sky viewing and deep-space imaging.
The Perseids meteor shower occurs annually when Earth passes through the orbital debris trail left by Comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle. As small particles of ice and dust collide with Earth’s upper atmosphere at speeds of roughly 59 kilometers per second, they burn up, producing bright trails of light and occasional fireballs that leave persistent glowing trains across the night sky.
“The Perseids represent one of the most reliable and active meteor displays of the year,” astronomy team guides at Mleiha explained in their event preview. The shower gets its name because the meteors appear to originate from a radiant point located within the constellation Perseus, specifically near its famous Double Cluster.
The organized event at Mleiha is designed for attendees of all ages and skill levels. High-powered optical telescopes will be set up across the observation site to give visitors detailed views of the Moon, planets, and deep-sky objects alongside the meteor viewing.
The program includes interactive educational presentations led by resident astronomers, space-themed trivia competitions with prizes, and guided hands-on astrophotography sessions. Specialized photography guides will be on-site to assist guests in setting up cameras and smartphones to capture long-exposure images of the meteor trails and desert landscape.
Given the limited capacity at the desert campsite, organizers recommend early registration through official Mleiha channels.
