Astronomy is an imp ortant part of many Indigenous Australian cultures, with ancient Aboriginal astronomers familiar with eclipses, tides, and the motion of the planets. Particularly important in many cultures were the Pleiades (Seven Sisters) w ho were seen as seven girls chased by the lusty young man in Orion. The anc ient Greeks said that the Seven Sisters cluster of stars were a group of gi rls, chased by Orion. But virtually the same story is told by the ancient G reeks, and many other cultures. How come this same story appears in differe nt cultures which have had no contact since we all left Africa about 100,00 0 years ago. Can we trace this story back to our ancestors in Africa around 100,000 BC?
Ray Norris is a semi-retired Professor and an Emeritus Fellow at CSIRO Space & Astronomy, who researches the evolution of the Universe, and also studies the astronomy of Aboriginal Aus tralians. He has about 400 radio and TV appearances, featured in the stage show "The First Astronomers" with an Aboriginal elder, and has written the novel "Graven Images". He was educated at Cambridge University, and Univers ity of Manchester, UK, and moved to Australia to join CSIRO, where he becam e Head of Astrophysics, then Deputy Director of the Australia Telescope, an d then Director of the Australian Astronomy Major National Research Facilit y. He initiated the international EMU project to study the evolution of gal axies and led the EMU team that discovered the mysterious ORCs (or Odd Radi o Circles) that are still unexplained. He also studies the astronomy of Ind igenous Australians and is fascinated by their many intellectual achievemen ts as they sought to understand their Universe.
Note: Th is will be an online presentation, but members and guests are invited to jo in us at the Green Point Observatory to view on the big screen and engage i n discussions over supper.
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Astronomy is an imp ortant part of many Indigenous Australian cultures, with ancient Aboriginal astronomers familiar with eclipses, tides, and the motion of the planets. Particularly important in many cultures were the Pleiades (Seven Sisters) w ho were seen as seven girls chased by the lusty young man in Orion. The anc ient Greeks said that the Seven Sisters cluster of stars were a group of gi rls, chased by Orion. But virtually the same story is told by the ancient G reeks, and many other cultures. How come this same story appears in differe nt cultures which have had no contact since we all left Africa about 100,00 0 years ago. Can we trace this story back to our ancestors in Africa around 100,000 BC?
Ray Norris is a se mi-retired Professor and an Emeritus Fellow at CSIRO Space & Astronomy, who researches the evolution of the Universe, and also studies the astrono my of Aboriginal Australians. He has about 400 radio and TV appearances, fe atured in the stage show "The First Astronomers" with an Aboriginal elder, and has written the novel "Graven Images". He was educated at Cambridge Uni versity, and University of Manchester, UK, and moved to Australia to join C SIRO, where he became Head of Astrophysics, then Deputy Director of the Aus tralia Telescope, and then Director of the Australian Astronomy Major Natio nal Research Facility. He initiated the international EMU project to study the evolution of galaxies and led the EMU team that discovered the mysterio us ORCs (or Odd Radio Circles) that are still unexplained. He also studies the astronomy of Indigenous Australians and is fascinated by their many int ellectual achievements as they sought to understand their Universe.
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Note: This will be an online presentation, but members and gues ts are invited to join us at the Green Point Observatory to view on the big screen and engage in discussions over supper.
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