The 365 Days of Astronomy Folklore - Tokuzou's Star: When the Northern Star Moved
Nov 29, 2025
Explore the enchanting tale of Tokuzou, a legendary mariner from Osaka, who navigated by Polaris, the North Star. His wife's keen observation reveals a surprising shift in the star's position, sparking worry about his safe return. As Tokuzou confronts this challenge, he conducts an experiment with a pine tree to measure Polaris' movement. The story seamlessly blends folklore with modern astronomy, offering a reminder that even reliable guides can change. Avivah invites listeners to try the experiment themselves, connecting past and present.
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Tokuzo's Wife Sees The Star Move
- Tokuzo trusted Polaris as a fixed navigation point while his wife noticed the star shift through a lattice window.
- Her careful observation led Tokuzo to test the alignment with a pine tree and confirm the star's slight motion.
Polaris Isn't Perfectly Fixed
- Polaris sits near but not exactly on the North Celestial Pole and traces a small circle each night.
- Small angular shifts that eyes miss can produce large positional errors for long-range navigation.
Folklore Encodes Astronomical Motion
- Earth's axis slowly wobbles in precession, causing the celestial pole to drift over millennia.
- Folklore encodes practical astronomical observations without technical jargon, using tiles and window slats as measures.