1<h2>Tongan (Tonga)</h2> 2<p>As in all Polynesian star lore, Tongan sky culture descends from 3the practical application of nautical navigation. In some 4circumstances separation of individual star names from "star path" 5names cannot be resolved. A star may have multiple names 1) if the 6star is part of numerous star paths and 2) since the naming of stars 7can differ depending on which Tongan island group it originates from. 8The nomenclature of stars is approximated based on the limited 9resources available. </p> 10 11<p>Whilst the most-notable/common stars and constellations (i.e. Orion, 12Pleiades, Crux) are identified in Tongan star lore there are two 13notable exceptions. There is an absence of naming of the North star 14(Polaris: α UMi). This is peculiar considering the latitude of the 15Tongan islands and the prominence of this star at certain times of 16the year. In the event of any northerly journeys from Tonga such an 17important navigational landmark could not have possibly gone 18unnoticed. The constellation of Scorpio (parts in, or stars of) are 19also absent from Tongan star lore. This is surprising since the vast 20majority of star lore – globally and Polynesian – has Scorpio as a 21central constellation due to it being easily identified and that it 22is nearly directly opposite Orion in the night sky. [Stellarium would 23welcome any further knowledge on these two anomalies.]</p> 24 25<p>Common ancestry of Polynesian star lore's is evident in the 26similarities in the labelling of stars. For example the Pleiades is 27called Mataliki in Tongan, Matariki in Maori and Makali`i in Hawaiian. 28</p> 29 30<h3>References</h3> 31<ol> 32<li>Velt Kik, <em>Ko E Ngaahi fetu'u 'o, Stars over tonga</em>, 1990 33'Atenisi University, Nuku'alofa , Tonga Government printing department.</li> 34<li>T.H Fale, <em>Tongan astronomy</em>, 1990 35Polynesian Eyes foundation, Nuku'alofa, Tonga 36Choice printing.</li> 37<li>E. E. V. Collocott, <em>Tongan astronomy and calendar</em>, 1992 38Occasional Papers of the Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum of 39Polynesian ethnology and Natural History, Vol.8, No. 4 40Honolulu, Hawaii, Bishop Museum Press 1922, p. 157-173. </li> 41</ol> 42 43<h3>Nomenclature</h3> 44<table class="nomenclature"> 45<tr><th>Tongan term</th><th>Designation</th></tr> 46<tr><td>Humu</td><td>Coal sack</td></tr> 47<tr><td>Kaniva</td><td>Milky Way</td></tr> 48<tr><td>Ma'afulele</td><td>Large Magellan cloud</td></tr> 49<tr><td>Ma'afutoka</td><td>Small Magellan cloud</td></tr> 50<tr><td>'otu Ma'afu</td><td>Magellanic clouds (both)</td></tr> 51<tr><td>Ha'amonga</td><td>Ecliptic</td></tr> 52<tr><td>Mahina</td><td>Moon</td></tr> 53<tr><td>La'a</td><td>Sun</td></tr> 54<tr><td>Fetu'u</td><td>Star (in general)</td></tr> 55<tr><td>Fetu'ufuka</td><td>Comet</td></tr> 56<tr><td>'Umata</td><td>Rainbow</td></tr> 57<tr><td>Fetu'u'Esiafi</td><td>Falling star</td></tr> 58<tr><td>tapukitea</td><td>Venus</td></tr> 59<tr><td>Matamemea</td><td>Mars</td></tr> 60<tr><td>Ma'afutoka (same as SMC)</td><td>Canopus</td></tr> 61<tr><td>Ma'afulele (same as LMC)</td><td>Sirius</td></tr> 62<tr><td>Velitoa hififo</td><td>Rigel</td></tr> 63<tr><td>Velitoa hahake</td><td>Betelguese</td></tr> 64<tr><td>Hikule'o</td><td>Arcturus</td></tr> 65<tr><td>Monuafe</td><td>Meissa</td></tr> 66<tr><td>Motuliki</td><td>Pleiades</td></tr> 67<tr><td>Tu'ulalupe</td><td>Hyades</td></tr> 68<tr><td>Toloatonga</td><td>Southern Cross</td></tr> 69<tr><td>Toloalahi</td><td>False Cross</td></tr> 70</table> 71 72<strong>Tongan constellations</strong> 73<table class="nomenclature"> 74<tr><th>Tongan name</th><th>Designation or notes</th></tr> 75<tr><td>Tuinga ika</td><td>Part of Orion, belt and sword</td></tr> 76<tr><td>Ae e'Uvea</td><td>Corona Borealis (<em>Speculative</em>)</td></tr> 77<tr><td>Fatanalua</td><td>Coma Berenices (<em>Speculative</em>)</td></tr> 78<tr><td>Kapakau'o'tafahi</td><td>Cassiopeia (<em>Speculative</em>)</td></tr> 79<tr><td>Toloa</td><td>Belt of Orion</td></tr> 80<tr><td>Lua tangata</td><td>Castor and/or Pollux</td></tr> 81<tr><td>Fungasia</td><td>Toliman and/or Agena</td></tr> 82<tr><td>Houmatoloa (Toloa, toloatonga, toloalahi)</td><td>—</td></tr> 83</table> 84 85<h3>Author</h3> 86<p>This sky culture was contributed by Stellarium user <i>Dan Smale</i>, d.smale(at)niwa.co.nz</p>