A shark in the stars: astronomy and culture in the Torres Strait

TL;DR

This paper explores the rich astronomical knowledge and cultural significance of the Torres Strait Islanders, highlighting the enduring importance of indigenous astronomy alongside modern scientific advances.

Contribution

It provides an in-depth examination of Torres Strait Islander astronomy, emphasizing its cultural relevance and historical continuity in the context of modern space exploration.

Findings

Indigenous astronomy remains vital to Torres Strait Islanders' culture.

Traditional astronomical knowledge coexists with modern scientific understanding.

The paper documents specific celestial phenomena significant to the Torres Strait Islanders.

Abstract

Technology has, without doubt, expanded our understanding of space. The Voyager 1 space probe is on the brink of leaving our solar system. Massive telescopes have discovered blasts of fast radio bursts from 10 billion light years away. And after a decade on Mars, a Rover recently found evidence for an early ocean on the Red Planet. But with every new advance, it's also important to remember the science of astronomy has existed for thousands of years and forms a vital part of Indigenous Australian culture, even today. As an example, let's explore the astronomy of the Torres Strait Islanders, an Indigenous Australian people living between the tip of Cape York and Papua New Guinea.