If in case you have visited an island like one of many Hawaiian Islands, Tahiti or Easter Island, often known as Rapa Nui, you might have seen how small these land plenty seem in opposition to the huge Pacific Ocean. Should you’re on Hawaii, the closest island to you is greater than 1,000 miles (1,600 kilometers) away, and the coast of the continental United States is greater than 2,000 miles (3,200 kilometers) away. To say these islands are secluded is an understatement.
For me, watching the film “Moana” in 2016 was eye-opening. I knew that Polynesian individuals traveled between a variety of Pacific islands, however seeing Moana set sail on a canoe made me notice precisely how small these boats are in contrast with what should have appeared like an limitless ocean. But our fictional hero went on this journey anyway, just like the numerous real-life Polynesian voyagers upon which she relies.
Islands in Polynesia might be 1000’s of miles aside.
NASA
As an astronomer, I’ve been instructing faculty college students and guests to our planetarium learn how to discover stars in our sky for greater than 20 years. As a part of instructing appreciation for the great thing about the sky and the celebs, I wish to assist individuals perceive that if you recognize the celebs nicely, you’ll be able to by no means get misplaced.
U.S. Navy veterans realized the celebs of their navigation programs, and European cultures used the celebs to navigate, however the strategies of Polynesian wayfinding proven in Moana introduced these concepts to a really extensive viewers.
The film Moana gave me a brand new hook – pun not meant – for my planetarium reveals and classes on learn how to find objects within the evening sky. With “Moana 2” out now, I’m excited to see much more astronomy on the large display and to determine how I can construct new classes utilizing the concepts within the film.
The North Star
Have you ever ever discovered the North Star, Polaris, in your sky? I attempt to spot it each time I’m out observing, and I train guests at my reveals to make use of the “pointer stars” within the bowl of the Large Dipper to seek out it. These two stars within the Large Dipper level you on to Polaris.
Within the northern sky, you’ll be able to observe the ‘pointer stars’ in Ursa Main/The Large Dipper – proven right here with a pink arrow – to a star in a pink circle, which is Polaris, or the North Star.
Starry Night time Fanatic/Christopher Palma
In case you are dealing with Polaris, then you recognize you’re dealing with north. Polaris is particular as a result of it’s nearly instantly above Earth’s North Pole, and so everybody north of the equator can see it year-round in precisely the identical spot of their sky.
It’s a key star for navigation as a result of if you happen to measure its peak above your horizon, that tells you ways far you’re north of Earth’s equator. For the big quantity of people that dwell close to 40 levels north of the equator, you will note Polaris about 40 levels above your horizon.
Should you dwell in northern Canada, Polaris will seem greater in your sky, and if you happen to dwell nearer to the equator, Polaris will seem nearer to the horizon. The opposite stars and constellations come and go along with the seasons, although, so what you see reverse Polaris within the sky will change each month.
Search for the Large Dipper to seek out the North Star, Polaris.
You should utilize the entire stars to navigate, however to do this it is advisable to know the place to seek out them on each evening of the yr and at each hour of the evening. So, navigating with stars aside from Polaris is extra difficult to be taught.
Maui’s fishhook
On the finish of June, round 11 p.m., a shiny crimson star may catch your eye if you happen to look instantly reverse from Polaris. That is the star Antares, and it’s the brightest star within the constellation Scorpius, the Scorpion.
In case you are a “Moana” fan like me and the others in my household, although, you might know this group of stars by a special title – Maui’s fishhook.
In case you are within the Northern Hemisphere, Scorpius could not absolutely seem above your horizon, however if you’re on a Polynesian island, you need to see the entire constellation rising within the southeast, hitting its highest level within the sky when it’s due south, and setting within the southwest.
Scorpius, which is known as Maui’s fishhook by Hawaiians, is a constellation proven right here within the southern sky.
Starry Night time Fanatic/Christopher Palma
Astronomers and navigators can measure latitude utilizing the peak of the celebs, which Maui and Moana did within the film utilizing their palms as measuring instruments.
The simplest method to do that is to determine how excessive Polaris is above your horizon. Should you can’t see it in any respect, you have to be south of the equator, however if you happen to see Polaris 5 levels (the width of three fingers at arm’s size) or 10 levels above your horizon (the width of your full fist held at arm’s size), then you’re 5 levels or 10 levels north of the equator.
The opposite stars, like these in Maui’s fishhook, will seem to rise, set and hit their highest level at completely different areas within the sky relying on the place you’re on the Earth.
Polynesian navigators memorized the place these stars would seem within the sky from the completely different islands they sailed between, and so by on the lookout for these stars within the sky at evening, they may decide which course to sail and for a way lengthy to journey throughout the ocean.
Right now, most individuals simply pull out their telephones and use the built-in GPS as a information. Ever since “Moana” was in theaters, I see a totally completely different response to my planetarium talks about utilizing the celebs for navigation. By precisely displaying how Polynesian navigators used the celebs to sail throughout the ocean, Moana helps even these of us who’ve by no means sailed at evening to grasp the strategies of celestial navigation.
The primary “Moana” film got here out when my son was 3 years outdated, and he took an on the spot liking to the songs, the story and the surroundings. There are numerous jokes about dad and mom who dread having to look at a baby’s favourite time and again, however in my case, I fell in love with the film too.
Since then, I’ve needed to thank the storytellers who made this film for being so cautious to point out the astronomy of navigation appropriately. I additionally appreciated that they confirmed how Polynesian voyagers used the celebs and different clues, corresponding to ocean currents, to sail throughout the massive Pacific Ocean and land safely on a really small island 1000’s of miles from their house.