• A view of the Perseid meteor shower over the Church of St Paraskevi of Iconium in the village of Russkoye Khodyashevo in the Russian Republic of Tatarstan in 2021.
    A view of the Perseid meteor shower over the Church of St Paraskevi of Iconium in the village of Russkoye Khodyashevo in the Russian Republic of Tatarstan in 2021.
  • A Perseid meteor streaks across the sky above the Negev desert near the city of Mitzpe Ramon in Israel.
    A Perseid meteor streaks across the sky above the Negev desert near the city of Mitzpe Ramon in Israel.
  • The Perseids are a prolific meteor shower associated with the Swift–Tuttle comet. The meteors are called the Perseids because the point from which they appear to originate lies in the constellation Perseus.
    The Perseids are a prolific meteor shower associated with the Swift–Tuttle comet. The meteors are called the Perseids because the point from which they appear to originate lies in the constellation Perseus.
  • In many places the Perseids are easily visible to the naked eye.
    In many places the Perseids are easily visible to the naked eye.
  • Most of the meteors are small and burn up when they hit the Earth's atmosphere.
    Most of the meteors are small and burn up when they hit the Earth's atmosphere.
  • Perseid meteors in the sky over Golog Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, in the Qinghai Province of China.
    Perseid meteors in the sky over Golog Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, in the Qinghai Province of China.
  • A Perseid meteor over the Sariyer district of Istanbul, Turkey.
    A Perseid meteor over the Sariyer district of Istanbul, Turkey.
  • A Perseid meteor streaks across the sky over Izmir, Turkey.
    A Perseid meteor streaks across the sky over Izmir, Turkey.
  • A Perseid meteor above a sandstone outcrop at Redstone in the Pinto Valley wilderness area in Nevada, US.
    A Perseid meteor above a sandstone outcrop at Redstone in the Pinto Valley wilderness area in Nevada, US.

UAE

How to watch the Perseids meteor shower in UAE this week

Up to 100 meteors per hour are expected to shoot across the skies

Sarwat Nasir
Sarwat Nasir

August 07, 2023

  • English
  • Arabic

The Perseids meteor shower is set to peak in the UAE and around the world, lighting up the skies on August 12 and 13.

The cosmic event will feature about 100 meteors an hour shooting across the night sky.

Visibility will depend on the weather but so far the forecast is for a clear sky with little interference from the Moon.

“The Perseids is one of the best meteor showers to observe, producing up to 60 to 100 meteors per hour at its peak,” Dubai Astronomy Group said.

“It is produced by Comet Swift-Tuttle. The Perseids are famous for producing a large number of bright meteors."

How to watch from the UAE

The shower will peak on August 12 and the morning of August 13 and the best viewing will be from a dark location after midnight.

It will be visible to the naked eye but telescopes will enhance the viewing experience.

The Dubai Astronomy Group is hosting a viewing event at Al Awir desert Saturday night, with tickets costing Dh200 to Dh300.

Telescopes will be provided.

People look through telescopes at a viewing event put on by the Dubai Astronomy Group at Jebel Hafeet in Al Ain. Pawan Singh / The National
People look through telescopes at a viewing event put on by the Dubai Astronomy Group at Jebel Hafeet in Al Ain. Pawan Singh / The National

Several YouTube channels will broadcast the celestial event live.

"With its peak around August 13, the Perseids can produce an impressive display of up to 100 meteors per hour under optimal conditions," said the Al Sadeem Astronomy, which has an observatory based in Abu Dhabi.

"From Abu Dhabi, at the peak of the shower, the radiant will fall at the altitude of 56° above your horizon, which may help the observers to see up to 125 meteors per hour."

What causes the showers?

Nasa said the Perseids are one of the best meteor showers of the year.

They leave light and colour behind them as they streak across Earth's atmosphere.

"Perseids are also known for their fireballs,"," the space agency said. "Fireballs are larger explosions of light and colour that can persist longer than an average meteor streak.

"This is due to the fact that fireballs originate from larger particles of cometary material."

Perseids are leftover pieces from Comet Swift-Tuttle, which was discovered in 1862.

What are the GCSE grade equivalents?
 
  • Grade 9 = above an A*
  • Grade 8 = between grades A* and A
  • Grade 7 = grade A
  • Grade 6 = just above a grade B
  • Grade 5 = between grades B and C
  • Grade 4 = grade C
  • Grade 3 = between grades D and E
  • Grade 2 = between grades E and F
  • Grade 1 = between grades F and G
The specs

Engine: 5.0-litre V8

Power: 480hp at 7,250rpm

Torque: 566Nm at 4,600rpm

Transmission: 10-speed auto

Fuel consumption: L/100km

Price: Dh306,495

On sale: now

Asia Cup Qualifier

Final
UAE v Hong Kong

Live on OSN Cricket HD. Coverage starts at 5.30am

French business

France has organised a delegation of leading businesses to travel to Syria. The group was led by French shipping giant CMA CGM, which struck a 30-year contract in May with the Syrian government to develop and run Latakia port. Also present were water and waste management company Suez, defence multinational Thales, and Ellipse Group, which is currently looking into rehabilitating Syrian hospitals.

If you go

The flights
Etihad (etihad.com) flies from Abu Dhabi to Luang Prabang via Bangkok, with a return flight from Chiang Rai via Bangkok for about Dh3,000, including taxes. Emirates and Thai Airways cover the same route, also via Bangkok in both directions, from about Dh2,700.
The cruise
The Gypsy by Mekong Kingdoms has two cruising options: a three-night, four-day trip upstream cruise or a two-night, three-day downstream journey, from US$5,940 (Dh21,814), including meals, selected drinks, excursions and transfers.
The hotels
Accommodation is available in Luang Prabang at the Avani, from $290 (Dh1,065) per night, and at Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp and Resort from $1,080 (Dh3,967) per night, including meals, an activity and transfers.

Tips for avoiding trouble online
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  • Do not publish or repost racist or hate speech, yours or anyone else’s
  • Do not incite violence and be careful how to phrase what you want to say
  • Do not defame anyone. Have a difference of opinion with someone? Don’t attack them on social media
  • Do not forget your children and monitor their online activities
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo

The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
Price, base / as tested: Dh182,178
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Power: 350hp @ 7,400rpm
Torque: 374Nm @ 5,200rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
​​​​​​​Fuel consumption, combined: 10.5L / 100km

Apple's%20Lockdown%20Mode%20at%20a%20glance
%3Cp%3EAt%20launch%2C%20Lockdown%20Mode%20will%20include%20the%20following%20protections%3A%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EMessages%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Most%20attachment%20types%20other%20than%20images%20are%20blocked.%20Some%20features%2C%20like%20link%20previews%2C%20are%20disabled%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EWeb%20browsing%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Certain%20complex%20web%20technologies%2C%20like%20just-in-time%20JavaScript%20compilation%2C%20are%20disabled%20unless%20the%20user%20excludes%20a%20trusted%20site%20from%20Lockdown%20Mode%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EApple%20services%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EIncoming%20invitations%20and%20service%20requests%2C%20including%20FaceTime%20calls%2C%20are%20blocked%20if%20the%20user%20has%20not%20previously%20sent%20the%20initiator%20a%20call%20or%20request%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EConnectivity%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Wired%20connections%20with%20a%20computer%20or%20accessory%20are%20blocked%20when%20an%20iPhone%20is%20locked%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EConfigurations%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Configuration%20profiles%20cannot%20be%20installed%2C%20and%20the%20device%20cannot%20enroll%20into%20mobile%20device%20management%20while%20Lockdown%20Mode%20is%20on%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
THE%20HOLDOVERS
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Avatar: Fire and Ash

Director: James Cameron

Starring: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana

Rating: 4.5/5

Dirham Stretcher tips for having a baby in the UAE

Selma Abdelhamid, the group's moderator, offers her guide to guide the cost of having a young family:

• Buy second hand stuff

 They grow so fast. Don't get a second hand car seat though, unless you 100 per cent know it's not expired and hasn't been in an accident.

• Get a health card and vaccinate your child for free at government health centres

 Ms Ma says she discovered this after spending thousands on vaccinations at private clinics.

• Join mum and baby coffee mornings provided by clinics, babysitting companies or nurseries.

Before joining baby classes ask for a free trial session. This way you will know if it's for you or not. You'll be surprised how great some classes are and how bad others are.

• Once baby is ready for solids, cook at home

Take the food with you in reusable pouches or jars. You'll save a fortune and you'll know exactly what you're feeding your child.

Winners

Ballon d’Or (Men’s)
Ousmane Dembélé (Paris Saint-Germain / France)

Ballon d’Or Féminin (Women’s)
Aitana Bonmatí (Barcelona / Spain)

Kopa Trophy (Best player under 21 – Men’s)
Lamine Yamal (Barcelona / Spain)

Best Young Women’s Player
Vicky López (Barcelona / Spain)

Yashin Trophy (Best Goalkeeper – Men’s)
Gianluigi Donnarumma (Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City / Italy)

Best Women’s Goalkeeper
Hannah Hampton (England / Aston Villa and Chelsea)

Men’s Coach of the Year
Luis Enrique (Paris Saint-Germain)

Women’s Coach of the Year
Sarina Wiegman (England)

In numbers: China in Dubai

The number of Chinese people living in Dubai: An estimated 200,000

Number of Chinese people in International City: Almost 50,000

Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2018/19: 120,000

Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2010: 20,000

Percentage increase in visitors in eight years: 500 per cent

The%20specs
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EPowertrain%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESingle%20electric%20motor%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E201hp%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E310Nm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESingle-speed%20auto%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBattery%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E53kWh%20lithium-ion%20battery%20pack%20(GS%20base%20model)%3B%2070kWh%20battery%20pack%20(GF)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETouring%20range%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E350km%20(GS)%3B%20480km%20(GF)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh129%2C900%20(GS)%3B%20Dh149%2C000%20(GF)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Now%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
THE DEALS

Hamilton $60m x 2 = $120m

Vettel $45m x 2 = $90m

Ricciardo $35m x 2 = $70m

Verstappen $55m x 3 = $165m

Leclerc $20m x 2 = $40m

TOTAL $485m

Updated: August 07, 2023, 2:00 AM
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