Ray norris aboriginal astronomy

Bill yidumduma harney and ray norris at the first astronomers show at the darwin festival early life. Australian aborigines were some of the first people in the world to develop ideas with astronomy. How did aboriginal and torres strait islander people use the sun, moon and stars for practical and social purposes. In his spare time he researches the astronomy of aboriginal australians, and is an adjunct professor at the macquarie university dept. We summarise the literature on aboriginal references to eclipses, showing that many aboriginal groups.

Working closely with indigenous elders and communities, read more. Ray is the director of the aboriginal astronomy project. Were indigenous australians the firstever astronomers. Born in england, he obtained an ma in theoretical physics at cambridge. He also researches the astronomy of australian aboriginal people, for which he is an adjunct professor in indigenous studies at macquarie university.

Professor ray norris, csiro, talks about his work on aboriginal astronomy. It is possible that their interpretation of astronomy is the oldest still alive today. He also researches the astronomy of australian aboriginal people. Jan 14, 2014 ray norris is a british and australian astrophysicist whose dayjob is to use international telescopes to figure out how galaxies formed and evolved.

Ray norris is a britishaustralian astronomer with csiro astronomy and space science who researches how galaxies formed after the big bang, and the astronomy of australian aboriginal people. He received an honours degree in theoretical physics at cambridge university, uk, and then a phd at manchester university, uk. Euahlayi lawman and knowledge holder, ghillar michael anderson, shares some of the ancient wisdoms of. Like any other cultural activity, it is impossible to understand how astronomy fits into aboriginal cultures without first understanding the cultures themselves.

Astronomy is more than just stories it means a quest to understand the patterns in the sky and the motion and eclipses of the sun, moon and planets. Aboriginal knowledge amazes evolutionist astronomer. Australianaboriginalastronomyintheinternationalyearof. Ray norris is an astrophysicist and science communicator, based at the csiro australia telescope national facility, and is well known for his work on aboriginal astronomy. The rock engravings at ngaut ngaut, sa, which are said to represent lunar cycles. Euahlayi lawman and knowledge holder, ghillar michael anderson, shares some of the ancient wisdoms of his peoples connection to the universe. We present 25 accounts of comets from 40 australian aboriginal communities, citing both supernatural perceptions of comets and historical accounts of bright comets. We and about a thousand others spent an interesting hour in the national library of australia nla theatre hearing ray norris talk about aboriginal astronomy and navigation. From 2005 onwards, there was a rapid growth of articles on aboriginal astronomy see figure 2, reflecting a rapid increase not only in interest in the subject but in rigorous scholarly research. Norris is well known for his work on aboriginal astronomy, and is an adjunct professor in the department of indigenous. Professor ray norris from the csiro australia telescope national facility, together with his wife cilla, has written a book called emu dreaming an introduction to australian aboriginal astronomy. In southeast australia, there is evidence in the form of stone rows that may have been used in aboriginal astronomy.

Australian aboriginal astronomy is a name given to indigenous australian culture relating to astronomical subjects such as the sun and moon, the stars, planets, and the milky way, and their motions on the sky. Ray explained that wurdi youang is the only aboriginal site known to indicate significant astronomical positions on the horizon other than the cardinal points, suggesting that other such sites may be discovered in the future. Australian aboriginal astronomy, by prof ray norris youtube. Aboriginal astronomy ockhams razor abc radio national. Ray norris is a british and australian astrophysicist whose dayjob is to use international telescopes to figure out how galaxies formed and evolved.

Jun 04, 2011 this is the first novel from ray norris, a british and australian astrophysicist whose dayjob is to research the origin and evolution of galaxies shortly after the big bang. Hamacher2 1csiro australia telescope national facility po box 76, epping, nsw, 1710, australia email. Pdf comets in australian aboriginal astronomy ray norris. Jan 20, 2014 as australia has the oldest continuous culture on earth, the first australians were very likely to have also been the first astronomers. Ray norris professor ray norris if being an adjunct professor allows that honorific is a professional astronomer at the australia telescope national facility which is. A guide to aboriginal astronomy australian geographic. Norris the circumgalactic medium cgm of the massive spiderweb galaxy, a conglomerate of merging protocluster galaxies at z2. People this page features many of the key people in the world of indigenous astronomy, including elders who share their knowledge, researchers, aboriginal astrophysicists, communicators, and aboriginal students working in this space. This week, i present the small booklet written by ray and cilla norris and a poster developed by their son barnaby. The textbook was totally and utterly wrongray norris, astrophysicist astronomer at the australia telescope national facility. I really connected more with my ancestry and linking it to astronomy today is really exciting. Professor norris has worked with several aboriginal groups in nsw and nt. Emu dreamingan introduction to aboriginal astronomythis book gives.

Emu dreaming an introduction to australian aboriginal. Sadly, you have to choose one or the other to make a career. Studying astronomical subjects such as the sun, moon, stars and planets and the way they appeared to move was used as a way to find and explain the relationship between people, nature and the sky. Csiro indigenous astronomer ray norris told the yolngu dreamtime story of the three brothers to abc radio sydney. Star stories of the dreaming first nations astronomy trailer.

As australia has the oldest continuous culture on earth, the first australians were very likely to have also been the first astronomers. Ray norris an astrophysicist with csiro, and an adjunct professor at the dept. Professor ray norris is an astrophysicist with csiro astronomy and space science, and teaches in the school of computing, engineering at. So our goal is to understand the importance of astronomy in aboriginal cultures, and ultimately perhaps answer the. The astronomy and navigation of aboriginal australians anu. Together, they spent five years studying aboriginal astronomy. Aboriginal astronomy talk by ray norris let ray norris introduce you to aboriginal astronomy. There are many tantalising examples like this throughout australia which suggest that astronomy is an important part of many australian aboriginal cultures. The international year of astronomy in 2009 saw both an explosion of published literature on aboriginal astronomy e. Australian aboriginal astronomy in the international year. Ray norris is a britishaustralian astronomer in the school of science at. Professor ray norris is an astrophysicist at csiro and western. Ray norris is an astrophysicist at the csiro australia telescope national facility. The textbook was totally and utterly wrong ray norris, astrophysicist astronomer at the australia telescope national facility.

Aboriginal astronomy the star of dreamtime stories abc news. Sep 07, 2011 this week, i present the small booklet written by ray and cilla norris and a poster developed by their son barnaby. Duane hamacher editoremu dreaming was written by csiro professor ray norris and his wife, cilla. The living traditions of aboriginal astronomy with professor ray. Jonas vaiskunas plus over 200 publications in astrophysics.

Norris, title australian aboriginal astronomy in the international year of astronomy, year share. The astronomy and navigation of aboriginal australians register now aboriginal people in australia have a rich astronomical tradition such as the emu in the sky constellation of dark clouds, and stories about the sun, moon, and stars, revealing a great depth and complexity of ancient aboriginal cultures. An introduction to australian aboriginal astronomy. Australianaboriginalastronomyintheinternationalyear. Astronomy is deeply embedded in many of the 300odd aboriginal cultures across australia, all of which share some common roots such as a belief in the dreaming a time beyond time when creator spirits roamed the earth, could move easily between earth and sky, and could change shape between animal and human. Aboriginal astronomy the star of dreamtime stories abc.

He was educated at cambridge university and the university of manchester. Australian aboriginal astronomy in the international year of. He also researches australian aboriginal astronomy, and the astronomy of british bronzeage stone circles. Ray norris is a british and australian astrophysicist whose dayjob is spent at the edge of the universe. Australian aboriginal astronomy and navigation article pdf available in publications of the astronomical society of australia 33 july 2016 with 1,542 reads how we measure reads. Conventional wisdom says that australias aboriginal people have occupied the land for at least 40,000 years. A highlight was a oneday symposium on aboriginal astronomy at the australian institute of aboriginal and torres strait islanders studies aiatsis on 2009 november 27. He researches how galaxies formed and evolved after the big bang, and also researches the astronomy of aboriginal australians. This is the first novel from ray norris, a british and australian astrophysicist whose dayjob is to research the origin and evolution of galaxies shortly after the big bang. Buy emu dreaming an introduction to australian aboriginal astronomy by ray norris 9780980657005 2014 from. See more ideas about astronomy, aboriginal education and aboriginal culture. He also researches australian aboriginal astronomy, and the astronomy of british bronzeage stone circles and other megalithic monuments. Astronomy is deeply embedded in many of the 300odd aboriginal cultures across australia, all of which share some common roots such as a belief in the dreaming a time beyond time when creator spirits roamed the earth, could move easily between earth and sky. In 2008 csiro astrophysicist ray norris set out with wildlife expert cilla norris to learn, collect and document the stories of australian aboriginal astronomy from community elders who were the custodians of these stories.

Astrophysicistastronomer ray norris on australian aboriginal knowledge of eclipses, orion, pleiades, greek mythology. We explore 50 australian aboriginal accounts of lunar and solar eclipses to determine how aboriginal groups understood this phenomenon. Deep fields projects australian aboriginal astronomy sydney rock engravings. Aboriginal people in australia have a rich astronomical tradition such as the. Aboriginal astronomy the star of dreamtime stories.