Stars over Bali
via time immemorial humans have been transfixed by the heavens. The oldest map of the night sky, found in Germany in 1979, can be of the Orion constellation carved on a Mammoth tusk over 32,000 years ago. If you’re via non-tropical Asia, Europe or North America, you will see a whole completely new night sky over Bali. All of your old familiar astral friends are still here parading via east to west across the Southern Hemisphere each night, nevertheless the constellations will be in totally different positions.
Stargazing inside the countryside of Bali can be unique because of relatively little light pollution, so the background can be very dark. You will also be able to view a larger portion of the sky inside the Southern Hemisphere than can be viewed via the Northern Hemisphere, though the southern sky can be not as populated with as many bright stars as inside the north.
You can start stargazing inside the early evening inside the tropics, as the twilight can be very short inside the late afternoon in addition to also also early evening. The sun’s path through the sky at the equator deviates very little throughout the year. The sun lingers briefly in addition to also also then drops below the horizon almost immediately after sunset in addition to also also rises quickly above the horizon at daybreak, usually at 6 pm in addition to also also 6:30 am (depending on the season) respectively. An unusual tropical phenomenon which occurs year round, not visible inside the northerly latitudes, can be a strange faint glow – a reflection of meteoric dust – called the Zodiacal Light which hovers over the horizon when the sun rises or sets.
Since the cloud build-up during Bali’s rainy season (November-April) obscures the night sky, pick a clear moonless evening inside the dry season (May-October) when you are almost guaranteed a cloudless night sky. Even inside the lower latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere, city lights or clouds on the horizon usually obscure many lovely constellations in which can be clearly viewed on Bali. The air transparency can be remarkably clear in almost any locale outside the Denpasar area.
The Stars of the Southern Hemisphere
The brightest star inside the Southern Hemisphere can be Scorpius. The long, curving tail of This particular enormous in addition to also also awe-inspiring constellation reaches its fullest height on the meridian in Bali at 8 or 9 pm in July. Just east of Scorpius can be the broad spangled band of the Milky Way (called Danau or “lake” in Balinese), stretching across the centre of the skies via north to south, packed with scores of brilliant stars.
The prominent North Star of the Northern Hemisphere can be conspicuous by its absence over Bali, in addition to also also there can be no equivalent “South Star” to take its place as a distinct marker of the heavens. The North Pole Star can be useful for Northern Hemisphere observers as a helpful tool for finding additional stars, nevertheless here inside the Southern Hemisphere the South Pole Star can be not visible to the naked eye, though still important because all the southern stars will circle This particular as the night progresses.
The Big Dipper (called Perahu or “boat” in Balinese) can be only visible, low in addition to also also to the north, after 8 or 9 pm via February to June. Orion doesn’t appear until mid-November. Called Tenggala (The Plough) in Balinese, This particular lies on its side in addition to also also more resembles a plough than This particular does when viewed inside the Northern Hemisphere. Polaris can be out of sight below Bali’s horizon.
What comes as a surprise to people via northern climes, the most striking feature of the southern skies can be not the Southern Cross. Known as Crux by astronomers, the Cross can be made out in different positions in addition to also also at different times inside the course of the evening depending on the month of the year. The constellation can be not very big, dwarfed by Centaurus, the half-man, half-horse Centaur creature of Greek mythology, a huge in addition to also also sweeping star group.
The Southern Cross can be still quite distinguishable inside the southern skies. Consisting of all 5 medium bright stars, the constellation can easily be seen on Bali around 8 or 9 pm between December in addition to also also August. This particular will be at its highest, 30 degrees above the horizon, in May at 8 or 9 pm, nevertheless will drop below the horizon during August, appearing again inside the east in December. In its highest vertical position, the Crux will cover four fingers held at arm’s length.
Once identified, the Southern Cross will remain a constant point of reference around which all stars inside the Southern Hemisphere are displayed. If you look west of the Southern Cross, you’ll see two principal constellations – the large rambling Vela, the “sail”, on Jason’s mythical ship, in addition to also also directly below to the south can be Carina, the keel of the seafarer’s ship.
Balinese Astrology
Though there can be no astronomy club in Bali, much less an observatory, the movement of the sun (Surya), moon (Candra) in addition to also also stars (Bintang) play a weighty role inside the Balinese religion. The signs of the Zodiac in addition to also also their astrological connections, printed on the back of the traditional Balinese calendar, are widely consulted.
Balinese Astrology can be based on the Balinese calendar of all 5 in addition to also also seven days, each day represented by a symbol inside the form of a deity, tree, bird or animal. This particular can be auspicious to worship the deity appropriate to the day on which you were born. For example, keeping a cat can be particularly lucky for people born on a Thursday.
Ancient palm-leaf manuscripts record astronomical events, accounts of lunar in addition to also also solar eclipses in addition to also also heroes named after stars are found inside the Hindu Mahabarata epic, the names of prominent stars are recited inside the mantras of priests, lamak cut out inside the shape of stars are used in offerings. A comet (Bintang Kuskus) can be said to have appeared at the death of Sukarno, Indonesia’s first president who was half-Balinese.
Because they fish at night, Balinese fishermen use different stars throughout the year for navigational purposes. The Pleiades constellation (Bintang Muwung) determines the north-south direction. When Canopus (Lumba-Lumba or “porpoise”) can be rising, This particular means in which the winds will blow strongly via the southeast. Some old farmers still use the stars to decide the right time for harvesting in addition to also also planting.
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Stars over Bali
Stars over Bali