Suhail star to be spotted September 5 to signal cooler season

A new season with cooler and milder weather will prevail the Arabian Peninsula, as Canopus, the second brightest star in the night sky, will be spotted on September 5, Astronomer and historian Adel Al-Saadoun said Monday. Known across Arabia as "Suhail Star," the people of Arabia await this change of season with great anticipation, as the rise of the star means improvement in weather, cooling in water, lengthening of shadow and shorter days of scorching heat. Canopus is part of Carina constellation, the 34th largest constellation in the sky. It is located in the southern sky and its name means "the keel" (keel of a ship) in Latin. Canopus is built around many mythological stories and its name is a Latinised version of the Greek name Kanobos, documented in Ptolemy's Almagest, presumably referring to the pilot of the ship that took Menelaus to Troy to retrieve Helen. It is also known by, Suhail, derived from the Arabic name for several bright stars. The Chinese know Canopus as "the Star of the Old Man" which is the symbol of longevity and happiness in the Far East. c