Sunday 21 / September / 2025
MUSCAT: Oman enters a new astronomical season on Monday with the arrival of the autumn equinox at 10:19 pm, when the sun aligns directly over the equator and daylight is nearly equal to night.
While this event traditionally signals the gradual shift toward cooler months across the northern hemisphere, Oman continues to grapple with higher-than-average temperatures.
In Muscat, residents can expect about 12 hours and 8 minutes of daylight on equinox day, with the sun rising at 5:55 am and setting at 6:03 pm. The slight extension beyond 12 hours occurs because of atmospheric refraction, which allows the sun to appear earlier and linger longer on the horizon.
For Oman, the equinox offers more than just a seasonal marker. It provides natural reference points that have long been used for orientation and observation. On this day, the sun rises due east and sets due west — a phenomenon that helps astronomers, students, and even casual sky-watchers understand Earth’s movement and the progression of the seasons.
Later this month, the country will also experience the Equilux — the precise day when sunrise and sunset align to create exactly 12 hours of daylight. For Muscat, this will occur on September 28, with the sun rising and setting at 5:57.
Beyond Oman, the equinox triggers striking polar shifts: the sun sets at the North Pole after six months of daylight, while the South Pole begins its half-year of continuous sunshine. Closer to home, however, the impact is more gradual, with the sultanate expected to see cooler conditions emerge steadily in the weeks ahead.
The autumn equinox marks the first step in a 90-day march toward the winter solstice on December 21, when the northern hemisphere will experience its shortest day of the year. Until then, Omanis may find themselves balancing the promise of cooler weather with the lingering grip of late-summer heat.
