Inuit astronomy

The Inuit have traditional names for many constellations, asterisms and stars. A number of these constellations overlap with, or can be found within, more commonly known western constellations:

• Two Placed Far Apart (Orion)
  • The Runners (Orion's Belt), used for navigation
    • The Polar Bear (Alnitak)
    • The Dogs (Alnilam and Mintaka)
  • Nephews and Nieces (Orion Nebula)
• The Lamp-Stand (Cassiopeia)
• Sikuliaqsiujuittuq, the Murdered Man (Canis Minor)
• The Flickering (Canis Major)
• The First Ones (Boötes)
  • The Old Man (Arcturus)
• The One Behind (Lyra)
  • The Old Woman (Vega)
• The Caribou (Ursa Major)
• Nanurjuk, the Spirit of a Polar Bear (Taurus)
  • Having the Spirit of a Polar Bear (Aldebaran)
  • Kaguyagat, Red Fox (Peiades)

External links

• http://www.stellarium.org/wiki/index.php/Inuit_Sky_Culture