Teacher background information

This elaboration describes opportunities to learn about the rich body of knowledge including stars, planets, galaxies and other features of the universe, that forms an integral part of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ cultures. Investigations into the astronomical knowledge of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as evidenced in histories inscribed in bark, rock and sand painting set the context for students to study traditional and modern understandings about the structure and origin of the universe. Students learn about the exceptional observation skills of First Australians, investigate how observations are embedded in histories and handed down through generations, and research how this knowledge was, and is used, to aid navigation and to construct seasonal calendars. Such investigations also provide opportunities for students to consider different perspectives about the nature of astronomical knowledge and the role it plays in traditional and modern societies.

Pre-contact First Australians had a deep understanding of the positions and movements of celestial bodies and are sometimes referred to as the ‘world’s first astronomers’. It is well-documented that many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples not only knew every star visible to the naked eye, but also had intimate knowledge of the precession of the planets, the apparent movement of the stars through the night sky, and the shift that the whole pattern of stars undergoes over the course of a year. This knowledge played, and continues to play, an essential role in the prediction and timing of seasonally recurring events, as well as in the highly developed navigational abilities of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. 

Many constellations are associated with histories, some of which are strikingly similar to those from European and other cultures. Contrary to many other traditions, in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander astronomy, the identity of stars and constellations is not only determined by the brightness and patterns of the observed light, but also takes into account the patterns originating from the dark clouds within the Milky Way and the colour of light emitted by certain stars. 

Students may research stories associated with well-known Torres Strait Islander and Aboriginal constellations, such as 'Tagai' and 'Emu in the Sky', while learning how to locate them in the night sky and considering the astronomical features they contain. Through the use of paper-based planispheres or star chart apps, students become familiar with important geometric features inherent in star observation, such as the ecliptic, and contemplate traditional and modern understandings of the nature and origin of stars.