‘Once in a lifetime’ meteor shower seen in Dubai

Dubai: Stargazers in the UAE gathered in Dubai overnight to witness a "once in a lifetime" meteor shower on Friday night and early Saturday morning.

Hundreds of people camped out in Dubai's desert to watch the skies, with the Dubai Astronomy Group organising viewing at the Bab Al Shams Desert Resort.

People reported seeing a few shooting stars as Camelopardalids unfolded. Astronomers had expected a huge meteor shower. The event happened when Earth passed through comet 209P/Linear's debris trail for the first time.

The shooting stars happened as chunks of rock and material left by the comet burned up in the atmosphere.

The previously unobserved celestial event has been widely anticipated around the world, with enthusiasts calling it an "astronomical experience of a lifetime".