Jeddah: The skies over the Arab world will witness the peak of the Perseid meteor shower starting from midnight tonight until predawn hours tomorrow, despite less-than-ideal viewing conditions this year.
According to Saudi Press Agency, President of the Jeddah Astronomy Society Eng. Majed Abu Zahra noted that the Perseids are among the best and most abundant annual meteor showers. Under ideal conditions, in a dark sky free from moonlight, between 75 and 100 meteors per hour can be seen. However, with the waning gibbous moon this year, it is expected that around 10 to 20 meteors per hour will be visible, roughly one meteor every five minutes. He emphasized that it will still be possible to observe a number of meteors.
Abu Zahra added that observing the Perseids requires choosing a dark location away from city lights with a wide view of the sky. Observers need about 40 minutes for their eyes to adjust to the darkness, and it is preferable to allow at least one hour after arriving at the observation site to increase the chances of spotting meteors. He added that observations can begin after 10 p.m. local time by watching the northern horizon, with the number of meteors increasing after midnight.