'Christmas comet' to appear in UAE skies this weekend

  DUBAI - Get your pair of binoculars ready - a "Christmas comet" will flash in the UAE skies this weekend. The 46P/Wirtanen or Christmas comet will pass closer to earth this weekend and is officially the brightest comet to appear in the skies this year. Astronomers say the comet will be visible to the eye from December 14 to 18, although they recommend using a pair of binoculars or digital camera to see it clearly in the city. The comet is around the size of a full moon and passes close to Earth every five years. Hasan Al Hariri, head of the Dubai Astronomy Group, said the Christmas comet will come closest to Earth on December 16. The comet's appearance will coincide with the peak of the Geminid Meteor Show, one of the brightest meteor showers of the year. Around 100 meteors per house are expected to light up the skies when the "king of meteor showers" happens. Emirati astronomer Thabet Al Qaissieh, who runs Al Sadeem Observatory in Al Wathba, said the meteor shower peaks at around December 13 or 14. The observatory is holding a free open house event starting at 10pm on Thursday. In Al Qudra, the Dubai Astronomy Group is also holding a special astronomy event on Friday, from 10pm to 4pm. The event will feature guided observations and talks. Ticket prices start at Dh50. GAD/Expat 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