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Difference between revisions of "Sirius"
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Bright stars were important to the ancient Polynesians for navigation of the Pacific Ocean. They also served as latitude markers; the declination of Sirius matches the latitude of the archipelago of Fiji at 17°S and thus passes directly over the islands each sidereal day. Sirius served as the body of a "Great Bird" constellation called Manu, with Canopus as the southern wingtip and Procyon the northern wingtip, which divided the Polynesian night sky into two hemispheres. | Bright stars were important to the ancient Polynesians for navigation of the Pacific Ocean. They also served as latitude markers; the declination of Sirius matches the latitude of the archipelago of Fiji at 17°S and thus passes directly over the islands each sidereal day. Sirius served as the body of a "Great Bird" constellation called Manu, with Canopus as the southern wingtip and Procyon the northern wingtip, which divided the Polynesian night sky into two hemispheres. | ||
It marked the onset of winter for the Māori, whose name Takurua described both the star and the season. Its culmination at the [[winter solstice]] was marked by celebration in Hawaii, where it was known as Ka'ulua, "Queen of Heaven." | It marked the onset of winter for the Māori, whose name Takurua described both the star and the season. Its culmination at the [[winter solstice]] was marked by celebration in Hawaii, where it was known as Ka'ulua, "Queen of [[Heaven]]." | ||
==Islam== | ==Islam== | ||