How to experience the Geminid meteor shower under AlUla’s pristine dark skies

• Ancient Saudi city is the only destination in the Middle East that is accredited with International DarkSky Park Certifications
• Set to peak tonight, 13^th December, the annual celestial event offers a memorable sight for stargazers

AlUla, Saudi Arabia – -: The Geminid meteor shower will grace the skies over AlUla, peaking on the night of 13^th December, offering stargazers and astro-tourism enthusiasts a chance to witness this celestial event in some of the darkest skies in the Middle East.

This ancient Saudi city is the only destination in the Middle East that is accredited with International DarkSky Park Certifications; for the locations of AlUla Manara and Gharameel. With its exceptionally clear night skies, AlUla ranks among the top 5% of global locations for stargazing and astro-tourism.

Meteor showers occur when Earth passes through debris streams left by comets and asteroids. Over time, these particles spread along the orbit of their parent objects around the Sun.

While most meteor showers typically stem from comets, the Geminid meteor shower stands out as it originates from the asteroid 3200 Phaethon. In the world of celestial displays, the Geminid meteor shower is one of the most spectacular and reliable meteor showers of the year.

The Geminids are known for their bright, multi-coloured meteors that can be seen streaking across the sky at a rate of up to 120 meteors per hour under ideal conditions. The shower appears to radiate from the constellation Gemini, but meteors can be spotted anywhere in the night sky. Best viewed under clear, dark skies away from city lights, the Geminids offer a memorable sight for stargazers in AlUla.

Visitors can enjoy the Geminid meteor shower in this vast, stunning desert setting, complemented by AlUla’s exceptional luxury hospitality, rich cultural and natural heritage, thrilling adventure activities, and more.

Some of the best stargazing locations in AlUla include Gharameel, where guided astro-tours allow travellers to experience both inky black skies and magnificent vertical rock formations; the Ashar Valley, a stunning desert escape known for its majestic rock formations that surround world-class resorts, including Our Habitas AlUla and Banyan Tree AlUla; and Sharaan Nature Reserve, which offers stunning night-time hikes.

Other unmissable celestial events that will be visible in AlUla in the coming months include:

• Ursid meteor shower – 22^nd December
• Quadrantid meteor shower – 3^rd to 4^th January 2025
• Close approach of Venus and Saturn – 18^th January 2025
• Moon and M45 conjunction – 8^th February 2025
• Conjunction of Mercury and Saturn – 26^th February 2025