Sharing the Skies : Navajo Astronomy

by Begay, David

• ISBN13: 9781933855400
• ISBN10: 1933855401
• Edition: 4th
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2010-03-02
• Publisher: Ingram Book Co

Summary

Sharing the Skies provides a look at traditional Navajo astronomy, including their constellations and the unique way in which Navajo people view the cosmos and their place within it. In addition, this book offers a comparison of the Navajo astronomy with the Greek (Western) perceptions. Beautifully illustrated with original paintings from a Navajo artist and scientifically enhanced with NASA photography.

Author Biography

Nancy C. MaryBoy is a Cherokee/Navajo scholar working in the area of Indigenous Science, with a focus on astronomy. She is the President and Executive Director of the Indigenous Education Institute located in Bluff, Utah and Santa Fe, New Mexico. She teaches Indigenous Astronomy at Northern Arizona University. She works with NASA educational outreach projects and with University of California, Berkeley, Space Science Labs on National Science Foundation projects. She lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and San Juan Island, Washington. David Begay is a scholar and member of the Navajo Nation, and one of the founders of the Indigenous Education Institute. He works with University of California, Berkeley, Space Science Labs in areas of Western and Indigenous science with support from NASA and the National Science Foundation. He lives on the Navajo Nation and works as an independent contractor with federal, state, tribal, and corporate entities.

Table of Contents

Foreword	p. 7
How to Use This Book	p. 8
Introduction	p. 11
Introduction to Navajo Astronomy	p. 11
Introduction to Greek Astronomy	p. 19
Introduction to Space Science	p. 24
Comparative Astronomy	p. 33
Náhook&ocedil;s Constellation	p. 33
Náhook&ocedil;s Bo'ka'/Ursa Major	p. 34
Náhook&ocedil;s Bi'áád/Cassiopeia	p. 36
Náhook&ocedil;s Bik&ocedil;'/Polaris	p. 38
Dilyéhé/Pleides	p. 40
Hubble: Barnard's Merope Nebula, IC 349	p. 43
Átsé Ets' ózí/Orion	p. 45
Hubble: Horsehead Nebula	p. 48
Hastiin Sik'aí'ií/Corvus	p. 49
Átsé Etsoh/Scorpius, top half	p. 51
Gah Hahat'ee/Scorpius, lower half	p. 53
Yikáísdáhá/The Milky Way	p. 55
Ii'ni/Pegasus and Leo	p. 57
Shash/Sagittarius	p. 63
Tsetah Dibé/Cancer	p. 66
Hubble: Star AU Microscopii	p. 68
T&lstroke;ish Tsoh/Canis Major	p. 70
Ma'ii Biz&ocedil;'/Argo Navis	p. 72
Hubble: The Eagle Nebula	p. 75
Jo'hanaa'éí/The Sun	p. 76
T&lstroke;'éhonaa'éí/The Moon	p. 82
Calendrical Comparison: Navajo and Western Months	p. 85
Resources	p. 87
Glossary	p. 87
Navajo Pronunciation Guide	p. 89
Constellation Location Guide	p. 90
Selected Bibliography	p. 90
Acknowledgments	p. 92
Art and Photography Credits	p. 93
Table of Contents provided by Ingram. All Rights Reserved.