Pleiades-moon conjunction signals summer’s end in Saudi Arabia

The skies over Saudi Arabia witnessed the conjunction of the Pleiades star cluster with the moon at dawn today, in an astronomical event known in Arab folklore as "Qaran 23." This phenomenon has long served as a seasonal marker for Arabs, helping them track the calendar and agricultural cycles. It signals the start of the third month of summer and the gradual easing of intense heat, ahead of the appearance of the Suhail star.

Mohammed Enad Al-Huzaimi, a member of the Astronomy Club, explained that this event coincides with the entry of the "Kulaibeen" period, which lasts for the first two weeks of this phase, while the Suhail star appears toward its end. He noted that Bedouins view this conjunction as an indicator that the peak of summer heat is ending, with temperatures beginning to decline and humidity rising in coastal areas—conditions that help the formation of clouds.

Significance for farmers and cultural heritage

Al-Huzaimi added that this stage lasts around 27 days and is important for farmers, as it coincides with the ripening of grapes and dates and the start of the palm harvest season. He cited a popular saying: "On the twelfth of Ab, grapes fall and dates ripen," referencing the folk calendar and the abundance of crops during this period. He also noted that it is considered a suitable time for tending crops and increasing irrigation.

Al-Huzaimi further pointed out that the conjunction of the Pleiades with the moon is among the most notable astronomical phenomena observed by Arabs throughout history. They relied on it to determine seasons, weather changes, and the onset of climate phases, based on a precise system of lunar mansions and star movements. The event continues to attract the interest of astronomers and those interested in cultural heritage, as a natural sign of summer’s end and the approach of the Suhail season, which brings milder weather.