Oman to welcome summer solstice, Dhofar's Khareef season on Saturday
Muscat: The Sultanate of Oman will witness the summer solstice phenomenon next Saturday as the sun aligns directly over the Tropic of Cancer, marking the official astronomical start of summer in the Northern Hemisphere. This year's summer season will last approximately 93 days, 15 hours, and 37 minutes, according to astronomical calculations.
Al Mukhtar Saif Al Saeedi, a member of Oman Astronomical Society, explained that this year's summer solstice will occur precisely at 6:42 AM Oman time on Saturday, 21 June. In Muscat Governorate, residents will experience the longest day of the year, with sunrise at 5:21 AM, the sun reaching its highest point at 12:09 PM, and sunset at 6:57 PM - resulting in a day length of 13 hours, 35 minutes, and 35 seconds. This phenomenon creates the longest daylight period and shortest night of the year across most Northern Hemisphere regions, including Europe, Asia, North America, and the Arctic Circle.
The summer solstice represents a significant astronomical event where the Northern Hemisphere experiences its maximum tilt toward the sun, while simultaneously marking the winter solstice in the Southern Hemisphere.
The summer solstice coincides with several notable natural phenomena in Oman. Astronomically, it signals the beginning of Dhofar's Khareef season (monsoon season) along the coastal regions from Dhalkut in the west to Mirbat in the east, when monsoon winds carry moisture-laden clouds from the Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean.
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Times of Oman
15 hours ago
- Times of Oman
Oman to welcome summer solstice, Dhofar's Khareef season on Saturday
Muscat: The Sultanate of Oman will witness the summer solstice phenomenon next Saturday as the sun aligns directly over the Tropic of Cancer, marking the official astronomical start of summer in the Northern Hemisphere. This year's summer season will last approximately 93 days, 15 hours, and 37 minutes, according to astronomical calculations. Al Mukhtar Saif Al Saeedi, a member of Oman Astronomical Society, explained that this year's summer solstice will occur precisely at 6:42 AM Oman time on Saturday, 21 June. In Muscat Governorate, residents will experience the longest day of the year, with sunrise at 5:21 AM, the sun reaching its highest point at 12:09 PM, and sunset at 6:57 PM - resulting in a day length of 13 hours, 35 minutes, and 35 seconds. This phenomenon creates the longest daylight period and shortest night of the year across most Northern Hemisphere regions, including Europe, Asia, North America, and the Arctic Circle. The summer solstice represents a significant astronomical event where the Northern Hemisphere experiences its maximum tilt toward the sun, while simultaneously marking the winter solstice in the Southern Hemisphere. The summer solstice coincides with several notable natural phenomena in Oman. Astronomically, it signals the beginning of Dhofar's Khareef season (monsoon season) along the coastal regions from Dhalkut in the west to Mirbat in the east, when monsoon winds carry moisture-laden clouds from the Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean.
Muscat Daily
16 hours ago
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Summer solstice on June 21 marks start of khareef in Dhofar
Muscat – The summer solstice, which marks the official beginning of astronomical summer, will occur on Saturday, June 21, the Oman Space and Astronomical Society (OSAS) has confirmed. The event coincides with the onset of the much-anticipated Khareef (monsoon) season in the Dhofar governorate. The solstice is the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere, when the sun reaches its highest point in the sky at noon. In Oman, it also signals the start of the annual khareef phenomenon that transforms Dhofar into a lush green landscape, attracting thousands of visitors from within the sultanate and across the region. The Oman Space and Astronomical Society noted that on this day, the sun will be directly overhead at the Tropic of Cancer, ushering in intense summer heat in most parts of the country – while the southern region experiences cooling monsoon rains. The khareef season, which typically lasts until September, is a vital period for tourism in Salalah and surrounding areas, known for their misty hills, flowing wadis, and mild weather. Authorities have already begun preparations to welcome an influx of tourists, with efforts focused on traffic management, accommodation readiness, and enhanced public services across Dhofar
Times of Oman
19 hours ago
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Oman set to welcome Summer Solstice and Khareef 2025
Muscat: Astronomically, Saturday, June 21, 2025, will mark the first day of summer and the beginning of Dhofar's Khareef season in the Sultanate of Oman. The Summer Solstice commences when the Sun's rays are directly overhead at the Tropic of Cancer. This day officially ushers in Astronomical Summer for the Northern Hemisphere, with the season lasting approximately 93 days, 15 hours, and 37 minutes. Al Mukhtar bin Saif Al Saeedi, a member of the Omani Society for Astronomy and Space, confirmed that this year's Summer Solstice will occur on Saturday, June 21, at 6:42 a.m. Oman time. In Muscat Governorate, the sun will rise at 5:21 a.m., reach its central position at 12:09 p.m., and set at 6:57 p.m. Daytime in Muscat will extend for 13 hours, 35 minutes, and 35 seconds, making it the longest day of the year and the shortest night across most regions of the Northern Hemisphere, including Europe, Asia, North America, and the Arctic. Al Saeedi explained that while the summer solstice signals the start of summer in the Northern Hemisphere, it simultaneously marks the first day of winter (winter solstice) in the Southern Hemisphere. The Earth's two primary movements—its daily rotation on its axis and its annual orbit around the sun—are responsible for the alternation of day and night and the changing seasons, respectively. The 23.5-degree tilt of the Earth's axis of rotation relative to its orbit around the sun is the fundamental reason for these solstices and equinoxes. He further clarified that these astronomical events do not directly dictate temperature changes, as surface temperatures are influenced more by climatic and atmospheric factors like air currents, heat waves, and wind patterns, which are weather-related rather than strictly seasonal. Al Saeedi highlighted several phenomena accompanying this astronomical event on Earth, including: The astronomical commencement of the Dhofar Khareef season, which impacts the coastal wilayats of Dhofar Governorate, stretching from Dhalkut in the west to Mirbat in the east. This season is characterized by monsoon winds and the influx of clouds from the Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean. The absence of a noon shadow in areas located directly on the Tropic of Cancer, such as Al Amerat, Fanja, Wadi Al Maawil, Rustaq, and Ibri. On this day, the Sun will rise from its farthest point in the northeast and set at its farthest point in the northwest. The number of night hours will shorten, and daytime hours will lengthen, subsequently beginning to decrease until the Autumnal Equinox on September 22, when day and night hours will be equal.
