The Arctic Sky: Inuit Astronomy, Star Lore, and Legend

by John MacDonald

Book Overview

A tour of the arctic universe awaits readers of The Arctic Sky. Constellations, star lore, legends and mythology, the sun, moon, planets, "shooting stars," and atmospheric phenomena such as aurora... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0888544278
• ISBN13: 9780888544278
• Release Date: January 1998
• Publisher: Royal Ontario Museum
• Length: 313 Pages
• Weight: 2.00 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 8.0" x 8.0"

Customer Reviews

Inuit Astronomy

When I read it, I fell in luv w/ it. Specially finding out that Stephen King got his info about his latest book, Under The Dome, fr/ 1 of thier traditions/religions.

Super Traditional Astronomy

In this age of high-tech astronomy, we might forget the rich and extensive sky knowledge of the indigenous people, including the northern Inuit of Canada and Inupiat of Alaska. Living in Barrow, Alaska, the farthest north city in the U.S. has given me some great astronomical lessons from local elders, even as I venture outside at 30 below zero with my trusty Unitron 2.4 inch refractor, to scan the night sky.Author John MacDonald is an astronomer and researcher in Iglolik in the new territory of Nunavut in Northern Canada. He surverys traditional astronomy through document research, but also through interviews and collaboration with Inuit elders in Igloolik.The book also contains findings and traditions from Northern Alaska. Living in a place where the sun stays down over two months in winter, I was fascinated to learn about a number of customs and rituals related to the return of the sun, for example. MacDonald tells how young people were forbidden to play strings games as the sun first reappeared ---for fear that the sun might get caught in the strings and never fully rise again. Also how residents of some villages would get up on the roofs of their homes to celebrate the return of the sun.There are many stories about familiar constellations, and words such as "Ullaktut", meaning "runners" which refer to the three belt stars of Orion. And much, much more.Alas, MacDonald notes that traditional astronomy is now diminished in some areas, in part because people travel faster at night with snow machines, and do not spend as much time outdoors under the night sky. In the past, he says, people traveling more slowly, and quietly, by dog team, would have ample opportunity to survey the maginificant sky above, with celestial objects often framed by Northern Lights. But he also notes a great revival of interest in studying the astronomical traditons of the past. Hopefully, this will include more and more young people to go into astronomy or some related field, and add a 21st century perspective to the lessons of the past.Buy this book, cherish it, and share it with your children and grand children. And keep looking up! Earl Finkler Barrow, Alaska