Dubai’s night sky recently hosted an unexpected astronomical spectacle as residents witnessed the annual Leonid meteor shower with unusual urban visibility. Amateur astronomer Abhishek Ashokan made a remarkable discovery during his evening commute on November 17th when he spotted a brilliant celestial streak near the Business Bay toll gate amidst traffic congestion.
Ashokan, whose passion for celestial observation has previously taken him to dark-sky locations like Al Quaa, immediately recognized the phenomenon’s significance. ‘Spotting celestial objects is my hobby,’ Ashokan told Khaleej Times. ‘I immediately had a hunch that I had spotted a meteor.’ Subsequent verification of his dashboard camera footage by the Dubai Astronomy Group confirmed his sighting as part of the Leonid meteor shower that peaked November 18th.
The event sparked widespread public engagement as multiple residents reported similar sightings across social media platforms. Vaisakh Babu, another Dubai resident, accidentally captured the meteor while filming the Dubai Frame in Zabeel Park on November 15th. ‘When I saw weather expert Muhammad Sajjad’s social media post, I realized what I had witnessed,’ Babu explained.
Public reaction revealed fascinating misconceptions about the phenomenon, with many observers initially mistaking the meteors for satellites, laser displays, or even fireworks. One social media user commented: ‘Because I was close to Global Village, I thought it was Skydive Dubai’s yet another stunt.’
The Leonid meteor shower occurs annually when Earth passes through debris from comet Tempel-Tuttle, typically producing 10-15 meteors per hour. The shower’s unusual urban visibility this year marks a significant departure from typical observations that require dark-sky conditions.
Looking ahead, astronomy enthusiasts can anticipate the Geminids meteor shower peaking around December 15th, with predicted rates of 80-120 meteors per hour. Sajjad noted favorable viewing conditions: ‘This year, the moon will only be 23-25 percent visible, making meteors significantly more observable compared to last year’s 80 percent moon visibility.’ Experts recommend traveling beyond city limits for optimal viewing experiences during upcoming celestial events.