Short Wave The Ancient Night Sky And The Earliest Astronomers
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Feb 1, 2023 Moiya McTier, an astrophysicist and folklorist, explores the fascinating links between ancient astronomy and folklore, showing how our ancestors navigated the cosmos through storytelling. She reveals how celestial observations fueled myths and provided early humans with vital knowledge, like predicting eclipses. The conversation shifts to the enchanting lore of the Milky Way across cultures and prophecies of its future collision with Andromeda, inviting us to reframe our understanding of time and our place in the universe.
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Emu Constellation in Indigenous Australian Astronomy
- Indigenous Australians used both light and dark constellations, including the Emu constellation.
- The Emu constellation appeared when emus laid eggs, a crucial food source, showing astronomy's practical link to life.
Astronomy and Folklore: Two Sides of the Same Coin
- Moiya McTier views astronomy and folklore as interconnected ways of understanding the world.
- Myths reveal practical knowledge, like predicting eclipses and floods, showcasing early scientific attempts.
Shifting Stars and Earth's Precession
- While stars move together in a cosmic dance, their alignment shifts over time due to Earth's precession.
- In 13,000 years, Vega will be the North Star, not Polaris, demonstrating the dynamic nature of the night sky.
