The UAE is known for its dazzling drone shows, fireworks, and high-tech displays lighting up the skies. But every now and then, nature puts on a stunning show of its own — with meteor showers streaking across the sky and the Moon showing off in special ways.
This April, sky-watchers can enjoy both. A ‘Pink’ Moon will rise on April 13 at around 7:08pm and will stay visible until it sets at 5:56am the next day.
Even though it’s called the Pink Moon, the Moon won’t actually turn pink. The name comes from old Native American traditions. It marks the first full moon of spring and was inspired by pink wildflowers that start blooming around this time in North America.
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This year, the Pink Moon is also a micromoon — meaning it will be at its farthest point from Earth, so it will look a bit smaller and dimmer than usual.
Right after the Pink Moon, another sky show is coming: the Lyrid meteor shower, expected between April 21 and 22. To get the best view, head to a dark place away from city lights, like the desert or mountains — good spots include Al Qudra, Al Quaa Desert, Jebel Jais, Jebel Hafeet, or Al Razeen Desert.
Unlike January’s Quadrantids, which had hundreds of shooting stars, the Lyrids will offer 10 to 20 meteors per hour, best seen between 2am and 5am.
How meteor showers take place
So, how do meteor showers happen — and why do we see so many later in the year?
According to Eng. Rami Alkhatib from the International Astronomical Center, all the meteors during a shower appear to come from one point in the sky, often linked to a comet or asteroid. As a comet travels through space, it leaves behind a trail of tiny debris. When Earth passes through this trail, these pebble-sized pieces hit our atmosphere and burn up — creating the bright streaks we see.
These glowing trails are actually caused by bits of ice, rock, or even metal — leftovers from when our solar system first formed around 4.6 billion years ago.
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When did it all begin?
One of the earliest recorded meteor showers was the Leonids in 902 AD, spotted by Chinese astronomers. But the Leonid shower of 1833 is often seen as the first major meteor storm that was widely observed and studied. It lit up the skies over North America with thousands of meteors per hour, capturing global attention and sparking more scientific interest in meteor showers.
Today, these sky events happen all year round — but winter is the best time to catch them, especially in the Northern Hemisphere, where the UAE is located.
Why winter? According to Al Hariri, it’s because of Earth’s position in orbit — we pass through more comet debris. Also, winter nights are longer and skies are usually clearer, making it easier to spot showers like the Geminids, Quadrantids, and others.
Going to watch a meteor shower?
To enjoy a meteor shower, it’s important to give your eyes about 30 minutes to adjust to the dark, says Khadijah Al Hariri, Operations Manager at Dubai Astronomy Group.
She also recommends avoiding phone screens or bright lights, as they can ruin your night vision. Meteor showers are best seen during a new moon, since a bright moon can make it harder to spot meteors.
Besides that, dress warmly, carry some basic supplies, and let someone know where you’re going — especially if you’re heading to a remote area, adds Eng. Rami Alkhatib.
Do you need a telescope or binoculars? No! Meteors move too fast. The best way to watch is with your own eyes under a clear, dark sky.
The upcoming meteor showers are:
- Eta Aquariids – May 5–6 (great for early risers)
- Perseids – August (100-150 meteors)
- Orionids – October (15-25 meteors)
- Leonids – November (10-20 meteors)
- Geminids – December (150-200 meteors)
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