Double delight for skywatchers

The hot summer weather in the region may be tormenting many residents, but it holds special interest for skywatchers as there are two eclipses coming up, one a partial lunar eclipse and the other a total solar eclipse. 
The maximum temperatures recorded in Sharjah by the airport met office was 44˚C on Sunday.
The partial lunar sky event is scheduled for Aug.7/8 and the total solar eclipse event, dubbed the Great American Lunar eclipse, is scheduled for Aug.21. Chairman of Adco Astronomy Club and Member of Abu Dhabi Heritage Club Mohammad Thalib Assalami and weather officials in Sharjah said even though the weather was very harsh following the maximum record temperature in June there was hope for better weather.
“The hottest June temperatures were recorded this year and the general temperatures have touched more than 50˚C in several parts. This is attributed to the global rise in temperatures due to the polar ice melting and other weather phenomenons,” Assalami said. 
Meanwhile, rain was reported in Al Sin and Abu Dhabi this week and there may be further rain in the hill tract areas in the coming days, the weather bureau added. This is due to the cumulonimbus, a dense towering vertical cloud associated with thunderstorms and atmospheric instability, formed from water vapour carried by powerful upward air currents. 
These clouds are capable of producing lightning and other dangerous severe weather, such as tornadoes, a weather expert in Sharjah said.
The National Weather Bureau said that the weather conditions may worsen by night and fresh northwesterly winds may cause dusty conditions with a slight fall in temperatures which started early on Sunday.
Source : Gulf Today