Aboriginal Astronomy (from the ABC YouTube video)

Why was astronomy important to Aboriginal people?

• Survival. They used it to keep track of times and seasons.

• Amusement. It was just fun to look at the stars.

• No reason. No-one knows why.

• Religion. Ancient Aboriginal people worshipped the stars.

Answer explanation

Survival. Aboriginal people used the movement of the stars through the sky to keep track of seasons and times so that they could know the movement of animals, when food resources would be available in different places, etc.

Aboriginals were always naturally looking at the stars every night because...

• they mainly lived and slept outdoors.

• they mainly lived and slept indoors.

• there were never any clouds.

• they didn't have Netflix.

Answer explanation

Most Aboriginal people lived and slept outdoors over thousands of years. The stars are part of their natural environment.

How long have stars been important to Aboriginal people?

• Tens of Thousands of years.

• Thousands of years.

• Hundreds of years.

• Since 1900.

Answer explanation

Tens of Thousands of Years. The Aboriginal people have been studying and using the Australian southern sky since the Dreamtime.

Who were the first people on Earth to study the stars and use the knowledge to help their lives?

• Australian Aboriginals.

• Ancient Egyptians.

• Romans.

• Americans.

Answer explanation

The Aboriginal people created the oldest known records of the stars, and made stories to help people remember how to use them.

To the Aboriginal people, the stars were very useful, because they acted as a...

• calendar and GPS.

• light show.

• Netflix feed.

• nightlight.

Answer explanation

The stars told them what time of year it was, which meant they knew where the animals were moving, and what bush tucker could be found and eaten. They could also tell them what direction they were facing, and roughly where they were.

Astrotourism WA is conducting tours of the night sky in WA, with tourists being helped by....

• guides and Aboriginal Elders

• scientists only

• white tour guides only

• no-one else.

Answer explanation

Astrotourism WA gets the help of Aboriginal Elders and Aboriginal tour guides to show people the night sky and its uses and stories.