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Heliacal rising: Difference between revisions
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==History== | ==History== | ||
Constellations containing stars that rise and set were incorporated into early calendars or zodiacs. The ancient Egyptian calendar was based on the | Constellations containing stars that rise and set were incorporated into early calendars or zodiacs. The ancient Egyptian calendar was based on the [[Heliacal rising]] of Sirius. The ancient Egyptians devised a method of telling the time at night based on the heliacal risings of 36 stars called decan stars (one for each 10° segment of the 360° circle of the zodiac/calendar). The Sumerians, the Babylonians, and the ancient Greeks also used the heliacal risings of various stars for the timing of agricultural activities. | ||
To the Māori of New Zealand, the Pleiades are called Matariki, and their heliacal rising signifies the beginning of the new year (around June). The Mapuche of South America called the Pleiades Ngauponi which in the vicinity of the we tripantu (Mapuche new year) will disappear by the west, lafkenmapu or ngulumapu, appearing at dawn to the East, a few days before the birth of new life in nature. Heliacal rising of Ngauponi, i.e. appearance of the Pleiades by the horizon over an hour before the Sun approximately 12 days before the winter solstice, announced we tripantu. | To the Māori of New Zealand, the Pleiades are called Matariki, and their heliacal rising signifies the beginning of the new year (around June). The Mapuche of South America called the Pleiades Ngauponi which in the vicinity of the we tripantu (Mapuche new year) will disappear by the west, lafkenmapu or ngulumapu, appearing at dawn to the East, a few days before the birth of new life in nature. Heliacal rising of Ngauponi, i.e. appearance of the Pleiades by the horizon over an hour before the Sun approximately 12 days before the winter solstice, announced we tripantu. | ||
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The corresponding rising of a celestial body above the eastern horizon at sunset is called its acronychal rising, which for a planet signifies a solar opposition in astrology, another type of syzygy. If the moon has an acronychal rising, it is usually a full moon or potentially a lunar eclipse.<ref>[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heliacal_rising]</ref> | The corresponding rising of a celestial body above the eastern horizon at sunset is called its acronychal rising, which for a planet signifies a solar opposition in astrology, another type of syzygy. If the moon has an acronychal rising, it is usually a full moon or potentially a lunar eclipse.<ref>[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heliacal_rising]</ref> | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||