The autumn equinox in the Sultanate of Oman will occur tomorrow, Wednesday, at 4:05 AM Oman time, marking the official start of autumn in the Northern Hemisphere. This atmospheric change coincides specifically with a decrease in the influence of monsoon winds and the reduction of the well-known monsoon weather called "Khareef" in the Dhofar region.
Timing Details and Weather Impacts
In this regard, Al-Raim Hamad Al-Makki, a member of the Oman Astronomy and Space Society, stated that astronomical calculations indicate that this autumn equinox will soon take place. In Muscat, the sun will rise tomorrow at 5:55 AM, reach its zenith at 11:59 AM, and set at 6:03 PM, resulting in a day length of approximately 12 hours and 7 minutes. This increase in daylight duration is due to the phenomenon of atmospheric refraction, which causes the sun to appear above the horizon before its actual rise and after its actual set.
Read more: Yemen: Increase in Conflicts and Predictions of Widespread Displacement Among the People
Seasonal Changes and Their Consequences
Furthermore, Al-Makki explained that the exact equality between night and day, known as "Equilux," will occur in Oman this year on Monday, September 28, 2026. On that day, the sun will rise at 5:57 AM and set at 5:57 PM, resulting in a day length of exactly 12 hours. These changes depend on the geographical position of the Sultanate of Oman relative to the equator.
As the autumn equinox passes, daylight hours in the Northern Hemisphere will gradually decrease while nighttime hours will increase. These changes will continue until the winter solstice, which brings the shortest day and longest night of the year in most areas of the Northern Hemisphere. In the Southern Hemisphere, the conditions are completely reversed, with daylight hours increasing as spring officially begins.
Al-Makki also noted that with the onset of autumn, the angle of sunlight in the Northern Hemisphere gradually decreases, leading to a reduction in the amount of solar energy received during the day. However, the beginning of the autumn season does not mean an abrupt drop in temperature, as weather conditions do not change suddenly with the equinox.
Finally, Al-Makki added that during the autumn equinox, which usually occurs between September 22 and 23, the sun rises almost precisely in the east and sets in the west, allowing for direction identification and shadows to disappear at noon along the equator, a phenomenon known as "No Shadow Day."
Read more: The G7 Condemns Houthi Attacks on Saudi Arabia · The Municipal Council of the North Al-Sharqiyah Governorate of Oman Reviewed the Development of Tourism in Al-Sharqiyah Sands
