Inuit astronomy
Encyclopedia
The Inuit have traditional names for many constellations, asterisms and stars:
- Two Placed Far Apart (OrionOrion (constellation)Orion, often referred to as The Hunter, is a prominent constellation located on the celestial equator and visible throughout the world. It is one of the most conspicuous, and most recognizable constellations in the night sky...
)- The Runners (Orion's Belt), used for navigation
- The Polar Bear (Alnitak)
- The Dogs (Alnilam and Mintaka)
- Nephews and Nieces (Orion NebulaOrion NebulaThe Orion Nebula is a diffuse nebula situated south of Orion's Belt. It is one of the brightest nebulae, and is visible to the naked eye in the night sky. M42 is located at a distance of and is the closest region of massive star formation to Earth. The M42 nebula is estimated to be 24 light...
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- The Runners (Orion's Belt), used for navigation
- The Lamp-Stand (CassiopeiaCassiopeia (constellation)Cassiopeia is a constellation in the northern sky, named after the vain queen Cassiopeia in Greek mythology, who boasted about her unrivalled beauty. Cassiopea was one of the 48 constellations listed by the 2nd century Greek astronomer Ptolemy, and it remains one of the 88 modern constellations today...
) - Sikuliaqsiujuittuq, the Murdered Man (Canis MinorCanis MinorCanis Minor is a small constellation. It was included in the 2nd century astronomer Ptolemy's 48 constellations, and is still included among the 88 modern constellations...
) - The Flickering (Canis MajorCanis MajorCanis Major is one of the 88 modern constellations, and was included in the 2nd-century astronomer Ptolemy's 48 constellations. Its name is Latin for 'greater dog', and is commonly represented as one of the dogs following Orion the hunter...
) - The First Ones (BoötesBoötesBoötes is a constellation in the northern sky, located between 0° and +60° declination, and 13 and 16 hours of right ascension on the celestial sphere. The name comes from the Greek Βοώτης, Boōtēs, meaning herdsman or plowman...
)- The Old Man (Arcturus)
- The One Behind (Lyra)
- The Old Woman (VegaVegaVega is the brightest star in the constellation Lyra, the fifth brightest star in the night sky and the second brightest star in the northern celestial hemisphere, after Arcturus...
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- The Old Woman (Vega
- The Caribou (Ursa MajorUrsa MajorUrsa Major , also known as the Great Bear, is a constellation visible throughout the year in most of the northern hemisphere. It can best be seen in April...
) - The Spirit of a Polar Bear (TaurusTaurus (constellation)Taurus is one of the constellations of the zodiac. Its name is a Latin word meaning 'bull', and its astrological symbol is a stylized bull's head:...
)- Having the Spirit of a Polar Bear (AldebaranAldebaranAldebaran is a red giant star located about 65 light years away in the zodiac constellation of Taurus. With an average apparent magnitude of 0.87 it is the brightest star in the constellation and is one of the brightest stars in the nighttime sky...
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- Having the Spirit of a Polar Bear (Aldebaran