Khaberni - The UAE Astronomy Association stated that the summer season among the Bedouins begins tomorrow, April 28, and lasts until June 7, coinciding with the disappearance of the Pleiades. It is the first of the hot and dry seasons, followed by the extreme heat and dryness with the rising of the Pleiades up to the rising of Suhail, which marks the height of heat and drought as well as the peak of simoom.
Ibrahim Al Jarwan, President of the UAE Astronomy Association and a member of the Arab Union for Space and Astronomy Sciences, stated in a report to the Emirates News Agency "WAM" that this period, which lasts about 40 days, is called “Al-Kinna”, "Al-Ghayoob", "Disappearance of the Pleiades", or "Al-Khifoq", which denotes the absence of the Pleiades star. During this period, it aligns with the sun and cannot be seen during the day. Just before the "Disappearance", it is above the western horizon after sunset and gradually approaches the sun. After the "Disappearance" period, it would be above the eastern horizon before sunrise and gradually moves ahead of it.
He added that when the Pleiades approaches sunset, marine people are warned of a strong climatic impact called "Bulat Al-Thurayya", occurring about ten days before the disappearance of the Pleiades, or less. Arabs also believe that if the Pleiades appears in the evening, it brings them rain, saying about it, "When it shines, it sails".
Arabs avoided cupping and branding during the disappearance period, and likewise refrained from overworking camels, even camel races. Should they see a sick camel, they would say, "Kadanha fi Al-Ghayoob," meaning they overexerted it during the disappearance period.
