Qatar Calendar House has announced that the Suhail star will rise in the sky over Qatar on Saturday, August 24, marking the beginning of the Suhail season in Qatar and other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.
Dr. Bashir Marzouq, an astronomy expert at Qatar Calendar House, stated that residents of Qatar will be able to observe the Suhail star with the naked eye on the southern horizon during the first week of September. The star can be easily identified as it appears alongside the brightest star in the night sky, Sirius.
The rising of the Suhail star on August 24 each year signifies the start of the Suhail season and the Suhail year, which lasts for 365 or 366 days. This period includes several key seasons in the region, such as Al-Murabba’iyah, Al-Wasmi, Al-Safri, and Al-Kanna.
The Suhail star, also known as Canopus, is the brightest star in the constellation Carina, also known as the Ship’s Base. It is the second brightest star visible in the night sky after Sirius and is located approximately 300 light years from Earth.
The Suhail season is of significant importance in the region, as it heralds a change in weather patterns, bringing relief from the intense summer heat. The appearance of the Suhail star is eagerly anticipated each year, as it marks the transition to cooler weather and the start of various agricultural and cultural activities in Qatar and the surrounding GCC countries.
The observation of the Suhail star is a time-honored tradition in Qatar, with its rising signaling the beginning of a new year in the lunar calendar. The Suhail star and its associated season have long been celebrated in Qatari culture, reflecting the deep connection between the people of Qatar and the natural rhythms of the desert and the sky.
As the Suhail star rises once again, it brings with it the promise of cooler days ahead and the continuation of cultural practices that have been passed down through generations in the region.
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