Salah Ukur

Authors: Youla Azkarrula, Susanne M Hoffmann

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Lintang Salah Ukur in the cloth (CC-BY UPTD Museum Bali Inventary no. 09.752)

Lintang Salah Hukur in lontar Prasi Palelintangan (CC-BY Alfred Maaß, (1929), Astrologische Kalender der Balinesen)

Balinese constellation: Salah Ukur (error measurement), re-drawn by Jessica Gullberg for the planetarium software Stellarium (CC-BY Youla Azkarrula & Jessica Gullberg)

Salah Ukur is an Oceanic name from Bali (Indonesia). The lintang of salah ukur is found in intersection of Wraspati (Thursday, in saptawara) and Paing (in pancawara) in a series of palelintangan. Lintang salah ukur means error measurement constellation.

Etymology and History

Salah Ukur (IPA:[ˈsa.lah ˈu.kur])

Spelling Variants

• salah hukur

Origin of Constellation

Salah ukur is depicted as a person holding a keris and attempting to defeat an animal or enemy larger than themselves. This implies a measurement or calculation error. Another interpretation is that this star depicts a fight between two people due to a misunderstanding resulting in incorrect measurements or perception.

General information

Identification of Balinese constellations (Maaß 1929, appendix).

The astronomical identification of the constellation is taken from Maaß (1929) who explains in general that these constellations and the according ritual practice

"sind seit alten Zeiten in einem Werk ,,wariga" niedergelegt, in dem wir zwei Kulturschichten, nämlich indische unq malaio-polynesische Bestandteile wiederfinden."

English: "are written down in a work called "wariga" since old times; there we recognise two cultural layers, i.e. the Indian and the Malayo-Polynesian."

He also quotes other scholars and his earlier work reporting that this work dates back to the 9th century CE when Bali was part of a Hindu empire on the neighbouring island of Java. Neubronner van der Tuuk even uses the Old Javanese spelling.

Identification

The identifications, Maaß (1929) gives according to the aforementioned and his own studies during visits of the country and in European and Batavian libraries (p.150).

Salah Ukur in the identification table by Maaß (1929). He mentioned this lintang is related to Wicakha constellation from Naksatra list, and gave the star list.

Maaß (1929), p. 141:

salah hukur (sich irren); - salah ukur; - ein mit einem Kriss bewaffneter Mann, der mit einem grossen Tier kämpft.

English: salah hukur (to be mistaken); - salah ukur; - a man armed with a kriss fighting a large animal.

Mythology / Religion

Image Variants

• 
  Lintang Salah Hukur (CC-BY Alfred Maaß, (1929), Astrologische Kalender der Balinesen)
• 
  Lintang Salah Ukur in the cloth (CC-BY UPTD Museum Bali Inventary no. 09.746)
• 
  Lintang Salah Ukur in the cloth (CC-BY UPTD Museum Bali Inventary no. 09.752)
• 
  Lintang Sala Ukur (CC-BY Youla Azkarrula taken in the ceiling of Taman Gili Klungkung Palace Bali)

Cultural Beliefs

Numerology (Neptu/Urip)

Wraspati (Thursday, in saptawara) has a value of 8 and Paing (in pancawara) has a value of 9. Thus, the total urip on this lintang is 17.

Astrological Characteristics

often involved in quarrels, confused because of having a low quality of life, having many problems. They are strong-willed in pursuing knowledge of the spiritual world. Unfortunately, they often harass and insult people, until the danger comes from people who are hurt by it.

Matching Gemstones

Biduri bulan (moon stone), Mirah (moon stone), Kecubung (amethyst).

All HIP Stars within this constellation

Stars within the Constellation Area

id	Label	IAU design.	description	Vmag
1	Zubeneschamali	HIP 74785	within constellation lines	2.62
2	Zubenelgenubi	HIP 72622	within constellation lines	2.75
3	Brachium	HIP 73714	within constellation lines	3.21
4	υ Librae	HIP 76470	within constellation lines	3.589
5	Zubenelhakrabi	HIP 76333	within constellation lines	3.91
6	θ Librae	HIP 77853	within constellation lines	4.16
7	ι 1 Librae	HIP 74392	Inside the Hull	4.54
8	κ Librae	HIP 76880	Inside the Hull	4.72
9	42 Lib	HIP 76742	Inside the Hull	4.96
10	ν Librae	HIP 73945	Inside the Hull	5.2
11	41 Lib	HIP 76628	Inside the Hull	5.359
12	η Librae	HIP 77060	Inside the Hull	5.412
13	ζ 4 Librae	HIP 76126	Inside the Hull	5.499
14	-	HIP 74732	Inside the Hull	5.506
15	-	HIP 76106	Inside the Hull	5.52
16	ζ 1 Librae	HIP 75730	Inside the Hull	5.626
17	-	HIP 75352	Inside the Hull	5.716
18	-	HIP 76532	Inside the Hull	5.79
19	ζ 3 Librae	HIP 75944	Inside the Hull	5.806
20	-	HIP 76569	Inside the Hull	5.816
21	ι 2 Librae	HIP 74493	Inside the Hull	6.066
22	-	HIP 73927	Inside the Hull	6.14
23	ο Librae	HIP 75118	Inside the Hull	6.143
24	28 Lib	HIP 75110	Inside the Hull	6.17
25	26 Lib	HIP 74600	Inside the Hull	6.172
26	-	HIP 75939	Inside the Hull	6.194
27	-	HIP 76503	Inside the Hull	6.194
28	-	HIP 76033	Inside the Hull	6.22
29	-	HIP 77007	Inside the Hull	6.295
30	-	HIP 76666	Inside the Hull	6.322
31	22 Lib	HIP 73953	Inside the Hull	6.404
32	23 Lib	HIP 74500	Inside the Hull	6.46
33	-	HIP 74490	Inside the Hull	6.47
34	30 Lib	HIP 75294	Inside the Hull	6.48
35	-	HIP 74391	Inside the Hull	6.49

IAU Working Group on Star Names

In November 2025, it has been proposed to use the name "Salahukur" for a star in the area to preserve the Balinese heritage. The star ups Lib or HIP 76470 is in the leg of one of the man. Constellation Salahukur is mentioned in Palelintangan Prasi, dating roughly 700 CE, and is still used in Bali.

References

• References (general)