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Title: Comets in Australian Aboriginal astronomy
Related: Journal of astronomical history and heritage, Vol. 14, Issue 1 (2011), p.31-40
Publisher: James Cook University, Centre for Astronomy
Date: 2011
FoR/RFCD Code(s): 220200 History and Philosophy of Specific Fields
Author/Creator: Hamacher, Duane W
Author/Creator: Norris, Ray P
Description: We present 25 accounts of comets from 40 Australian Aboriginal communities, citing both supernatural perceptions of comets and historical accounts of historically bright comets. Historical and ethnographic descriptions include the Great Comets of 1843, 1861, 1901, 1910, and 1927. We describe the perceptions of comets in Aboriginal societies and show that they are typically associated with fear, death, omens, malevolent spirits, and evil magic, consistent with many cultures around the world. We also provide a list of words for comets in 16 different Aboriginal languages.
Description: 10 page(s)
Subject Keyword: 220200 History and Philosophy of Specific Fields
Subject Keyword: comets
Subject Keyword: Aboriginal Australians
Subject Keyword: ethnoastronomy
Subject Keyword: history of astronomy
Resource Type: journal article
Organisation: Macquarie University. Dept. of Indigenous Studies - Warawara

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