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The star Suhail, which will rise on August 24, marks the first day on the calendar and marks the start of cooler temperatures
When will the UAE’s hot summer temperatures start to cool? When does winter start? When is the best time to go fishing? Is it safe to travel this month? To get answers to these questions and more, all we need to do is look up at the night sky, just as our ancestors did centuries ago.
The star of Suhail (or Canopus) is expected to rise on 24 August this year, marking the end of summer in the UAE. However, this well-known fact is only one of several aspects of life it represents. For example, the star also marks the beginning of an ancient Arabic calendar called Drour, according to Hasan Al Hariri, CEO of Dubai Astronomical Group.
Hassan Hariri
Similar calendars in some form date back at least 4,000 years, according to Hariri’s research. In the area, it dates back 800 years. “It tells us when it’s going to rain and sweltering heat, and the best time to travel or settle in. It’s not magic or something unfathomable. It’s just understanding nature and decoding it.”
The Drour calendar divides the year into 10-day segments. It begins with the discovery of the Suhail star.
The calendar details what to expect for each 10-day period. The sections are divided into three seasons of 100 days each – Fall, Winter, and Spring. The remaining days – until Sohail is discovered again – mark summer.
This system is “true genius” because basically the entire calendar is in the sky for all to see. “People basically do their work according to the calendar. Sailors and fishermen use it to decide when to go to sea. Traders who transport their goods; and medical staff to get the best herbs,” explained Al Hariri.
Calendars drawn from the observations of “our ancestors” still exist. For example, it is still published by the Emirates Heritage Club in Abu Dhabi, Al Hariri said.
People in India, Egypt and elsewhere use similar calendars to determine daily or seasonal events.
If you look at it in the context of today, “you will definitely see change,” but the idea is to understand the signals of the calendar.
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Looking up at the stars for guidance
The CEO of Dubai Astronomical Group said the seasons can be associated with the appearance of the stars. “For example, the star called Heart of the Scorpion is only visible in summer. Likewise, Sirius is only visible in winter.”
People use the stars to determine the best and safest time to do things. “In summer, the sea is generally calm and is the best time for fishing or pearling. However, the opposite is true in winter, as the sea is very rough. So, the stars helped the ancient Arabs plan their activities.”
Meaning of Suhail star
The one star that most accurately shows the changing seasons is Sohail. “In our region, it occurs between August 20th and 24th every year.”
The star indicates that the UAE is transitioning from summer to autumn. “Gradually, the temperature will drop.
“I once asked an elder how he would determine the appearance of the Suhaier star. He said he would put his hand in the desert sand. If the lower layer is cold, it means that the Suhaier has risen.”
The star was and is celebrated, as nights tend to appear cooler after its discovery.
For Arabs of the past, this marked the start of the monsoon season, so people were advised not to travel to the valleys as they would flood.
There will be a ton of dates during the season. It also marks the end of the pearling season.
How Suhail got its name
According to Al Hariri, about 70% of the stars have Arabic names. Sohail is one of the stars named by the Arabs.
It also appears in folklore. “In ancient times, stars had a place in stories so that people would remember their place. One of the stories tells how Sohail and his two sisters traveled to the south of the sky, and they are still there to this day,” Al Hariri added.
How to discover Suhail
It’s not the hardest star to spot, as Suhail is the second brightest star in the sky after Sirius. It is about 313 light-years from Earth and can be seen from the Arabian Peninsula until late winter.
All you need to do is look east before sunrise. The sky will still be dark and the brightest star you will see will be Suhail.
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