The final meteor shower of 2024 in Qatar is set to occur on December 13. The Geminids have been illuminating the skies since November 19, and they will peak on the night of December 13. On this night, countless meteors will streak across the sky, offering a spectacular view for astronomy enthusiasts. This event presents the last chance to observe a meteor shower in Qatar this year.

NASA describes the Geminids as “one of the best and most reliable annual meteor showers,” with up to 120 meteors visible per hour under ideal conditions. “The Geminids are bright and fast meteors, usually appearing yellow,” the space agency states.

Unlike most meteor showers that originate from comets, the Geminids are caused by debris from an asteroid named 3200 Phaethon. Each year, as Earth moves through Phaethon’s dust trail, tiny meteoroids burn up in our atmosphere, creating the bright streaks of light we see as meteors.

Navin Anand, an amateur astronomer and co-founder of the Qatar Astronomy and Space Club, mentioned that the Geminids can be enjoyed with the naked eye. The Geminid meteor shower typically produces up to 120 meteors per hour, but due to the brightness of the moon, this year’s peak is expected to showcase around 40 meteors per hour.

However, Anand noted that as the moon sets between 4:00 am and 5:00 am, there will be a brief but complete window to observe the meteor shower, offering a chance to spot over 100 meteors in a short time.

The Qatar Astronomy and Space Club, in collaboration with the Everester Observatory, will organize a stargazing event at Al Kharrara on December 13. The event will begin at 10:00 pm and continue into the early hours, lasting until sunrise.

Those interested in participating can contact 55482045 or 30889582 via WhatsApp or register for free on the Qatar Astronomy and Space Club’s website.