Hawaii astronomy and the Fall Equinox

In the course of the Fall Equinox in Hawaii (and the remainder of the Northern Hemisphere). There shall be virtually precisely the identical quantity of evening and day, with the times getting shorter till the Winter Solstice on December 21-22. It’s an thrilling time for Hawaii astronomy as a result of the celebs shall be out more and more longer for the subsequent three months.

The Fall Equinox is significant to me. I’m a reasonably even-keeled individual, striving all the time to search out some type of steadiness between hopeless pessimism and naïve “the whole lot is nice” optimism. The equinox is a cosmic affirmation that such steadiness is just not solely attainable however inevitable. And there may be a lot to see and marvel at in Hawaii’s nighttime skies within the months to return for followers of Hawaii astronomy.

Hawaii astronomy – Fall meteor showers

The obvious and spectacular occasions shall be meteor showers streaking by way of the heavens nightly, seen from wherever you’ll be able to see the sky at evening. The Orionids Meteor Bathe gentle up on October 2 by way of November 7, peaking in capturing star frequency on October 22. The Geminids Meteor Bathe dazzle us from November 19-December 24, peaking on the evening of December 14-15. Because of this guests and residents can have loads of alternatives to “want upon a star” as we method winter. Even areas with excessive gentle air pollution like Honolulu’s city hall, together with Waikiki, will nonetheless see the sky steaking with these gawk-worthy celestial guests.

Historic Native Hawaiian cosmology and rituals are deeply rooted in a profound understanding of astronomy. A type of Hawaiian zodiac is much like these of the East and West and primarily based on the lunar calendar. Hawaiians acknowledge constellations in the identical method some may determine the Huge Dipper or Orion’s Belt. The traditional Polynesian navigators that initially settled the Hawaiian Islands relied on the actions of the celebs to journey hundreds of miles over the huge Pacific Ocean.

Hanaiakamalama – the “Southern Cross”

Probably the most important constellations for these early navigators was what is thought within the West because the “Southern Cross”. Hawaiian cultural practitioners realize it as Hanaiakamalama, or “foster little one of the moon”. Hawaii, at 21 levels latitude north, is among the many solely locations within the US to see the well-known cluster of stars, because it by no means seems in skies above 26 levels latitude north. You’d have to go to southern Texas or Florida to catch a glimpse of the Southern Cross. We’ll go. We want Hawaii astronomy.

In Hawaii, Hanaiakamalama, the Southern Cross, seems briefly (cosmically talking) for a number of weeks in late December and January. It may be seen within the southern sky simply above the horizon earlier than dawn. It’s an annual “peek-a-boo” that’s loaded with non secular and cultural significance. These early Polynesian voyagers that first settled in Hawaii are believed to have come from Tahiti, due south of the Hawaiian Islands. There are a number of places round Hawaii which are believed to be historical astronomical observatories, some oriented for sighting Hanaiakamalama.

Hawaii is dwelling to very important astronomical analysis, a lot of it going down on the summit of Mauna Kea on Hawaii Island. Nevertheless, there are lots of extra assets for visiting newbie astronomers to benefit from throughout a Hawaii trip. The Imiloa Astronomy Center on the Huge Island and the Bishop Museum Planetarium on Oahu are nice locations to go to. Let our specialists at Hawaii Aloha Journey provide help to uncover the wonders of Hawaii astronomy. To e-book your Hawaiian journey give us a call or use our Trip Planner.