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Astronomical Research Center (A.R.C.)

Astronomical Research Center (A.R.C.)
29 | News | 2010/08/23 429 | Print

Arabian Peninsula : Suhail Star and the Changing of the Seasons and the Temperature

People of the Arabian Peninsula are anticipating tomorrow the reemergence of Suhail Star, some 300-light-years away from planet Earth, to "announce" the end of the excruciatingly-hot summer season, a Kuwaiti astronomer said Sunday. 

Easily seen with the naked eye in the southern hemisphere of Earth rather than in its northern one, Suhail does not appear in the sky until late summer -- specifically August 24 -- promising of an imminent expiration of heat and the beginning of a more moderate climate.

The seasons, according to Arab solar calculations, begins when Suhail Star appears, forming what is termed as the "Suhaili Year," comprising of 14 seasons.

Kuwaiti astronomy researcher Adel Al-Saadoun said that the actual rise of the star would begin at dawn on August 24, but noted that Suhail could only be observed in Kuwait on September 5.

Al-Saadoun, in an interview with KUNA, said the Suhail season usually extended for a period of 53 days until the entry of Al-Wasim (the marking) on October 16, where air and water cooled, and shadows grew taller due to the fact that nighttime becoming longer.

Astrology is among the sciences well-known by the people of the Arabian Peninsula, with the reason being that they used stars in many of their everyday tasks such as traveling, planning the harvest seasons, or even making decisions regarding marriages or going into battles.

Suhail Star usually appears from the south, opposite the Northern Star. It is also known in English as Canopus and is the brightest star in the southern constellation of Carina, and the third brightest star in the nighttime sky next to Sirius and the Sun.

Historians have always mentioned that Arabs became more optimistic once the Suhail Star was visible because it meant the weather would become better as temperature decreased, promising of a rainy season and good harvest.

Arabs also believed that when the star shines, divers would be lucky and found more and better pearls.
 

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