Sighting of star Suhail starts in Oman

MUSCAT: Astronomy enthusiasts and stargazers in the Sultanate of Oman have their eyes fixed on the southeastern horizon as it’s already time for star Canopus (locally known as Suhail) to appear in the sky marking the end of intense summer heat.

Wisal bint Salem al Hinai, Head of the Community Outreach Committee at the Oman Society of Astronomy and Space, said that Canopus, also known astronomically as Suhail, is approximately 313 light-years from planet Earth. It is the second-brightest star in the sky and is characterized by a yellowish-white colour. She noted that its appearance in the second half of August serves as a fixed time marker, which Omanis have relied upon to organize their agricultural and maritime activities and also marking the end of extreme heat and the beginning of a gradual change in the nighttime weather.

She noted that the appearance of star Suhail does not necessarily mean it has a direct effect on temperatures or weather changes. However, it holds an important place in the traditional astronomical calculations in the Sultanate of Oman, as seen in the Suhail calculation used to determine the seasons. Omani sailors and captains also relied on star Suhail for navigation and identifying maritime routes during long sea voyages.

She pointed out that the use of the stars' movements at night was also used for regulating allocations of aflaj water and setting irrigation times within the Athar and Bada traditional systems.

She explained that star Suhail begins to appear before sunrise in the southeast, close to the horizon, and then its height gradually increases to become more visible. She noted that the appearance of Suhail represents an opportunity to combine modern astronomical observation, adding that the Oman Society of Astronomy and Space follows these phenomena to enhance community awareness of astronomy and space sciences. — ONA