According to the stargazers at the Astronomy Centre, the summer heat has peaked in the UAE despite the still-sweltering temperatures.
With the spotting of the Suhail star expected to seen over the southeastern horizon in the UAE and central Arabia, starting from the dawn of August 24, it marks the shift towards cooler weather.
Summer comes to an end with Suhail star
The Suhail star (or the Canopus) is the second brightest in the sky after Sirius, is 27 million years old, and is approximately 313 light years away from Earth.
According to Arabian folklore, the rising of the Suhail star signals the end of summer and the gradual beginning of cooler days in the desert. Temperatures begin to fall from this date, because of the Earth’s distance from the sun.
Ibrahim Al-Jarwan, member of the Arab Union for Astronomy and Space Sciences, tweeted that star would be visible in the UAE on Wednesday, August 24th. He also said the star’s appearance marks a shift in weather and many people in the Arabian Gulf wait for the appearance of this giant star.
“The emergence of the Suhail star coincides with mild weather and low temperatures with high humidity southeasterly winds blowing, forming low clouds along the eastern slopes of Hajar Mountains in Oman and the UAE, which may be accompanied by drizzle,” he said.
Suhail represents much more than summer’s end
Historically, Emiratis have believed that Suhail star signifies abundance and prosperity.
In fact, people in the UAE have coordinated their pearl hunting, fishing and farming activities around the appearance of the star.
Suhail star has also been a reliable tool for navigation for ancient sailors and travelers. It once guided the pearl divers and Hajj pilgrims as they navigated at night. Known as Canopus in the West, it is still used today, in space navigation.
“People learn through the starts, the start of the seasons of the year, the times of rain, and the period of hot and cold weather,” said Al Jarwan.
You might also like: 13 Free things to do in Dubai
However, you should not expect an immediate return to good weather, as the traditional 365-day Emirati Al Drour calendar predicts a delay of 70 to 80 days after the astronomical event.
