I'm attending IAU Symposium 399: Indigenous Astronomy in the Space Age this week. I really REALLY wanted to go in person (watching stars with elders by Uluru??!! ohhhh that was hard to say no to. But 30 hours of travel each way and a lot of carbon made it a little easier...)
It's already Monday morning in Australia, so it's starting! I will miss a lot of this live due to the large time zone difference and family visiting this week, but I'll try to share a few highlights! #IAUS399
Meeting website is here: https://www.archaeoastronomy.org/iaus399
I'm not really sure what to expect, but I have no doubt I will learn a lot from all of the talks. I'm giving a (recorded) talk later in the week about satellite pollution, and I sincerely hope to get some new perspectives, ideas, and alliances for fighting for dark sky access.
Starting off with a welcome from archeologist and Wurundjeri Elder Aunty Annette Xiberras, reminding everyone that Indigenous people in Australia (particularly women) had different rules applied to them until scary recently. She says this week is about celebrating what has been achieved and where archeology is going. Told a traditional Dreamtime story about the origin of the seven sisters.
Message: when you walk the land, you have a responsibility for the land and for the people. #IAUS399
Whoa cool! There's a website with Indigenous Australian sky knowledge that is set up for grades 5-12, so Australian (or international) teachers and share this knowledge appropriately and respectfully. https://www.ngarrngga.org/
Elder Marcia Langton talks about how so much knowledge about the patterns in the night sky was known to Indigenous people in Australia for thousands of years, before European scientists "told them about it". (Examples: Betelgeuse changing brightness, the ecliptic, celestial navigation)
To live and eat well as an Indigenous person in Australia for thousands of years required deep knowledge of astronomy.
#IAUS399
Wayne Orchiston (China): Multidisciplinary ethnoastronomy. How is human evolution related to our understanding of the skies?
Astronomy is part of culture, culture changes due to major env. changes, migrations, new religions, colonialism
Ex: Kumara (sweet potato) agriculture in NZ strongly tied to certain stars, took ~300 yrs for humans to learn that after arrival in NZ
Brief teaser about mtDNA and astronomical systems
#IAUS399
Georg Zotti, working on Stellarium which is 25 years old, and has now officially hit version 1.0! (Software developers, rejoice).Problem: some proper motions wrong, volunteer converted to Gaia catalog, now accurate for thousands of years (impt for archeoastronomy)
Note there are several versions of stellarium, web version doesn't have all this, only desktop version good for archeoastro. Lots of translation options (via community)+calendar options coming soon.
Elizabeth Brooker: using Stellarium for Torres Strait Islander astronomy, heliacal rising/setting of certain stars is important for rain/animal migration tracking. A challenge is some stars associated with this knowledge are unknown, but timing can give a few guesses.
I am totally being overly sensitive, but this slide background in an astro conf where I am presenting satellite pollution is making me sad!
Thanks for posting on this. It's so interesting!
Prof. Sam Lawler
crypticcelery
Eye