Trevor LeamanNura Gili, UNSW

Aboriginal Name Animal Species Type Object

Gibbera Australian Bustard Ardeotis australis Bird Vega

Joorr-Joorr Owlet Nightjar Aegotheles cristatus Bird Canopus

Kalia Emu Dromaius novaehollandiae Bird Coalsack

Kangga Ngoonji Crow Mother Corvus spp. Bird Altair

Kara Redback Spider Latrodectus hasseltii Arachnid Arcturus

Kogolongo Black Cockatoo Calyptorhynchus banksii Bird Mars

Kulbir Grey Kangaroo Macropus fuliginosus Mammal Venus

Maalu Red Kangaroo Macropus rufus Mammall Jupiter

Ngurunya (?) Dingo Canis lupus dingo Mammal Achernar

Nyumbu Crow (chicks) Corvus spp. Bird Delphinus

Waljajinna Wedge-Tailed Eagle Aquila audax Bird Crux

Warrooboordina Black Cockatoo Calyptorhynchus banksii Bird Antares

Yugarilya Thorny Devil Lizard Moloch horridus Reptile Pleiades

Is there a correlation between a particular star and the lifecycle or behaviour of its terrestrial counterpart?

How can we test it?

Heliacal Rise (HR): First brief sighting of a star rising in the east just before sunrise.

Heliacal Set (HS): First brief sighting of a star prior to setting in the west after sunset.

Acronychal Rise (AR): First sighting of a star rising in the east just after sunset.

Acronychal Set (AS): Last sighting of a star setting in the west just before sunrise.

Dawn Meridional Crossing (Mdawn): When a star crosses the meridian at dawn.

Dusk Meridional Crossing (Mdusk): When a star crosses the meridian at dusk.

TWILIGHT VISIBILITY ATMOSPHERIC EXTINCTION

For 1st magnitude stars: Altitude Sun: -10 degrees

For 2nd magnitude stars: Altitude Sun: - 14 degrees

For 3rd magnitude stars: Altitude Sun: -16 degrees

Altitude +5 degrees

HR,HS,AR,AS

Not relevant for meridional crossings

Star Animal Lifecycle Correlation of Stellar Aspect with Lifecycle*

Achernar Dingo MotherMating AS HR HS Mdawn AR MduskBirthing AS HR HS Mdawn AR MduskWhelping AS HR HS Mdawn AR Mdusk

Altair Crow MotherMating/Laying HR Mdawn AS AR Mdusk HSHatching HR Mdawn AS AR Mdusk HSFledging HR Mdawn AS AR Mdusk HS

Antares Black CockatooMating/Laying Mdawn AR AS Mdusk HS HRHatching Mdawn AR AS Mdusk HS HRFledging Mdawn AR AS Mdusk HS HR

Arcturus Red Back SpiderMating/Laying Mdawn AS AR Mdusk HS HRHatching Mdawn AS AR Mdusk HS HR

Canopus Owlet Nightjar

Mating/Laying AS Mdusk HR HS Mdawn ARHatching AS Mdusk HR HS Mdawn ARFledging AS Mdusk HR HS Mdawn ARTorpor AS Mdusk HR HS Mdawn AR

Crux Wedge-Tailed EagleMating/Laying AR Mdawn AS Mdusk HR HSHatching AR Mdawn AS Mdusk HR HSFledging AR Mdawn AS Mdusk HR HS

Delphinus Crow ChicksLaying HR Mdawn AS AR Mdusk HSHatching HR Mdawn AS AR Mdusk HSFledging HR Mdawn AS AR Mdusk HS

Pleiades Thorny DevilMating/Laying Mdusk HS HR Mdawn AR ASHatching Mdusk HS HR Mdawn AR AS

Vega BustardMating/Laying HR Mdawn AS AR Mdusk HSHatching HR Mdawn AS AR Mdusk HSFledging HR Mdawn AS AR Mdusk HS

Within 2 weeks

  Within 4 weeks

  Within 6 weeks

  More than 6 weeks