Amman, August 2 (Petra) – Skies of Jordan and the Arab world will witness the peak of the Perseid meteor shower on Wednesday night, August 12-13, in a prominent annual astronomical phenomenon.

Pre-dawn is expected to the best sighting time to enjoy this unique event, according to a scientific study prepared by the Jordanian Astronomical Society (JAA).

In a statement Sunday, JAA Chairman, Dr. Ammar Sakaji, stated the Perseid shower, which began on July 17, will continue through August 24, and is characterized by its bright, fast-moving meteors.

He noted that the phenomenon will sometimes leave a bright, luminous trail that lasts for several seconds due to ionized gases in the atmosphere.

Based on the JAA study that relied on established scientific criteria and computer simulations, he said the research findings predict possibility of observing approximately 11 meteors per hour at 10:00 PM from Wadi Rum region.

He remarked this figure will gradually increase to about 60 meteors per hour during pre-dawn hours, as the optimal time to observe the phenomenon.

To best enjoy the shower, the association urged people to choose dark locations away from light pollution and avoid looking at phone screens.

It stated meteors can be seen in various parts of the sky, even though their apparent source is in the constellation Perseus.

//Petra// AG