SAASST News

Tuesday, 09 January 2024 09:35

UAEMMN Observation Report Geminids Meteor Shower Peak 2023

The Geminids meteor shower, originating from the asteroid 3200 Phaethon, is active annually from November 19 to December 24.

Named after the constellation Gemini, where its radiant is located, the peak of this meteor shower in 2023 is expected to occur around December 13–14. During this peak, the moon will only be 1% illuminated, creating ideal conditions for exceptional meteor visibility. The Geminids are known for their bright and frequent meteors, making it one of the most anticipated meteor showers of the year.


The Geminids meteor shower was observed with the UAE Meteor Monitoring Network (UAEMMN) observation stations in Sharjah, Al-Yahar, and Liwa. Figure 1 presents the peak of this meteor event in 2023, comparing the number of meteors observed over three nights: December 12–13, December 13–14, and December 14–15. Initially, observations were relatively low on December 12–13; Liwa saw 15 meteors, Al-Yahar 24, and Sharjah 6. A significant increase occurred on the peak night of December 13–14, with Liwa recording 40 meteors, Al-Yahar 50, and Sharjah 26. The highest counts were on December 14–15, with Liwa at 91 meteors, Al-Yahar at 182, and Sharjah at 111. Despite the cloudy skies in Sharjah, the station managed to observe many meteors during the peak night. The total number of meteors for all days and stations was about 545 real detections.