Autumn Equinox Arrives in Oman, Signaling Seasonal Shift

The autumn equinox begins in the Sultanate of Oman on Wednesday, marking a seasonal shift that coincides with the receding influence of monsoon winds and the decline of the climatic autumn "Khareef" in Dhofar Governorate. Astronomical calculations indicate this year’s autumn equinox will occur tomorrow, Wednesday, at 4:05 a.m. Oman time, according to Al Reem Hamad Al Malki, a member of the Oman Astronomical and Space Society. The event signifies the start of autumn in the Northern Hemisphere and spring in the Southern Hemisphere.

Oman's Specifics and Timing

In Muscat Governorate, the sun will rise on Wednesday at 5:55 a.m. And reach its zenith at 11:59 a.m. The sun is projected to set at 6:03 p.m. In the governorate. The day's length in Muscat Governorate on Wednesday will be approximately 12 hours and 7 minutes. During the autumn equinox, which typically occurs between September 22 and 23, the sun rises from the east and sets from the west almost precisely. Al Reem Hamad Al Malki, a member of the Oman Astronomical and Space Society, stated, "during the autumn equinox, which usually occurs between 22 and 23 September, the sun rises from the east and sets from the west almost precisely, making it possible to determine directions, and shadows disappear at noon on the equator in a phenomenon known as the 'zero-shadow day.'"

Astronomical Significance Explained

With the passage of the autumn equinox, daylight hours in the Northern Hemisphere begin to gradually decrease while nighttime hours increase. Al Reem Hamad Al Malki, a member of the Oman Astronomical and Space Society, stated that this change continues until the winter solstice, which brings the shortest day and longest night of the year to most Northern Hemisphere regions. Conversely, in the Southern Hemisphere, daylight hours begin to increase with the astronomical onset of spring.

Al Malki further explained that on the day of the autumn equinox, the sun apparently moves from the Northern Hemisphere to the Southern Hemisphere. She noted that this marks the beginning of autumn in the Northern Hemisphere and spring in the Southern Hemisphere. During this period, the angle of solar incidence in the Northern Hemisphere gradually decreases. The phenomenon known as the "zero-shadow day" occurs at noon on the equator during the autumn equinox.

Broader Climate Factors

The exact equality between night and day, known as the equilux, will occur in the Sultanate of Oman on Monday, 28 September 2026. Al Reem Hamad Al Malki, a member of the Oman Astronomical and Space Society, stated that on this date, the sun will rise at 5:57 a.m. And set at 5:57 p.m. Resulting in a day length of exactly 12 hours. This timing is in accordance with the Sultanate of Oman’s geographical position relative to the equator, Al Malki added.

Al Malki also explained that temperatures on the Earth’s surface are affected by multiple climatic and atmospheric factors. These include wind movement, air currents, air masses, heat and cold waves, and the geographical characteristics of each region. Therefore, Al Malki noted, hot conditions may persist in some areas even after the astronomical onset of autumn.