Calling All Stargazers: Oldest Known Meteor Shower To Light Up Alula's Certified Dark Skies This April

2026-04-20 08:00:24

(MENAFN- Mid-East Info)

Photo credit: Benjamin Barakat

AlUla, Saudi Arabia – April 2026: This April, one of the world's oldest known meteor showers, the Lyrids, is set to pass through the night sky offering a dramatic display of celestial fireworks. AlUla, home to the GCC's first internationally certified Dark Sky Park, invites skywatchers and astronomers alike to witness the natural phenomenon as it peaks on 22 April, coinciding with International Dark Sky Week. Taking place at 9 PM at Arch Rock, one of AlUla's most recognisable rock formations located approximately 90 minutes from the city, AlUla Manara has organised an evening of interactive astronomy-themed trivia and guided sky observations open to the public. Astronomy experts from AlUla's local community will transport attendees to the great cosmos, combining modern scientific discoveries with age-old Arab stargazing wisdom. A leading destination for immersive stargazing and celestial discovery, AlUla offers an ideal environment to view the Lyrids meteor shower. Along with vast, open landscapes, its dark skies are among the top 5% globally, promising an obstructed window into the cosmos. AlUla also ranks as the world's third-largest Dark Sky Park, with accreditation by DarkSky International spanning four locations: Sharaan National Park, Wadi Nakhlah Nature Reserve, the AlUla Manara site, and Gharameel Nature Reserve. This recognition is underpinned by AlUla's Astrotourism Policy, which sets strict lighting zones, curfews and compliance standards across the destination. The Lyrids meteor shower has been observed for 2,700 years, with the first recorded sighting traced back to 687 BCE by the Chinese. It is known known for its fast and bright meteors and best observed in truly dark environments – making AlUla an exceptional destination in the region to observe the spectacle. While the meteor shower is active from 16 to 25 April, its peak is anticipated on the night of the event, which is open to the public and free to attend.

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