Sunday 23 / August / 2026
MUSCAT: Stargazers across Oman are turning their eyes towards the southeastern horizon as the star Suhail (Canopus) makes its annual appearance in the second half of August, a celestial event traditionally associated with the gradual end of the intense summer heat and the transition towards a change in seasons.
Wisal bint Salem Al-Hinai, head of the Community Outreach Committee at the Omani Society for Astronomy and Space, said Suhail is located about 313 light-years from Earth and is the second-brightest star in the night sky. The star has a distinctive yellowish-white appearance.
Speaking to Oman News Agency, Al-Hinai explained that while the appearance of Suhail does not directly cause changes in temperature or weather, it has long served as an important seasonal marker in Oman’s traditional astronomical knowledge.
The traditional “Suhail calculation” was used to identify seasonal changes and help organise agricultural and maritime activities. Omani sailors and captains also relied on the stars for navigation, particularly during long sea journeys.
Astronomical observations also played a role in traditional irrigation practices.
The movement of stars at night was used to regulate water shares in the aflaj and adjust irrigation schedules under traditional systems such as athar and badah.
Suhail has also become part of Oman’s popular cultural memory through traditional proverbs reflecting generations of local experience in observing seasonal changes. Al-Hinai said Suhail first becomes visible before sunrise towards the southeast, close to the horizon, before gradually rising higher and becoming easier to observe. She described the annual return of Suhail as an opportunity to combine modern astronomy with Oman’s rich traditional astronomical heritage, helping preserve and document this knowledge for future generations.
