Pukapuka (Asterism Names)

Authors: Youla Azkarrula

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Pukapuka is a coral atoll of Cook Islands group in the Pacific Ocean. On this island, an ancient culture has been maintained over many centuries. The traditional name for the atoll is Te Ulu-o-Te-Watu ("The Head of the Rock"). The European discovered this island in the 16th century. Pukapuka has its own language and customs that are different from those of the rest of the Cook Islands.

Since they have their own customs, their sky culture slightly different to the other tribe from Cook Islands.

“Chart of the Pukapukan heavens” from Beaglehole and Beaglehole 1938, fig 55.

Here is the list for each numbers. The dotted line represents sun's ecliptic.

No	Pukanpukan Term	Identification
1.	Na Taki-tu-tolu-a-Mataliki	α, β, γ Cassiopeiae
2.	Te Wale-o-Tutakaiolo	α, β, θ, ι, Aurigae, β Tauri
3.	Mataliki	the Pleiades
4.	Takupu-tea	Venus
5.	Tulalupe	Jupiter
6.	Mata-kula	Aldebaran
7.	Mata-kula	Mars
8.	Te Tolunga-Maui	ξ, ε, δ Orionis
9.	Mata-lele	shooting star
10.	Mau-tokelau	Lesser Magellanic Cloud, position approximate
11.	Mautonga	Greater Magellanic Cloud, position approximate
12.	Tapao	Sirius
13.	Pangolengole-a-Kiliwelo	Praesepe cluster
14.	Mata-tea	Saturn
15.	Tokiva	Jupiter
16.	Te Yiku-o-te-kiole	Coma Berenices
17.	Te Yiku-o-te-kiole	Ursa Major, second identification
18.	Te Manu	Corvus
19.	Na Mata-o-te-paniwi	Crux
20.	Te Paniwi-o-Taewa	"The Coal Sack"
21.	Na Mata-o-te-tokalua, Wua-ma-Velo	α and β Centauri, includes also other stars of same declination
22.	Te Mango	the Milky Way
23.	Te Maina	the Moon
24.	Te Mata-yoa-ki-te-maina	companion star to the moon
25.	Te Wale-o-Awitu	Corona Borealis
26.	Na Pongaponga-iyu-o-te-kiole	4ε and 5 Lyrae
27.	Mata-wai-kave	comet
28.	Te Toloa	Delphinu
29.	Tolu	α, β, γ Aquilae
30.	Te Mango	the Milky Way
31.	Te Tao-a-Maui	black nebula near Scorpius
32.	Melemele	Antares
33.	Lua-tama-lelei	λ, υ Scorpii
34.	Te Kau-o-Maui	star cluster in Sagittarius
35.	Te Wao-a- aui	θ, η, ξ, ε, δ Ophiuchi and α Serpentis
36.	Takupu-tea	Venus
37.	Tapao	Jupiter
38.	Te Mata-yoa-ki-te-la	Mercury
39.	La	Sun
40.	Taki-piki-toIu	Piscis Australis

Solar System Names

Kamilaroi and Euahlayi	English	Commentary
	Sun
	Moon
	Mercury
	Venus
	Mars
	Jupiter
	Saturn

Here is an overview on Kamilaroi and Euahlayi asterism names

Kamilaroi and Euahlayi	Etymological Meaning, when possible	Commentary

References

• References (general)