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 &quot;star path&quot;
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: &alpha; 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 &ndash; globally and Polynesian &ndash; 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>&mdash;</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>