The Star Compass
Traditional Polynesian navigators position themselves mainly by the stars, using what's called a star compass. The ability to read the night sky is a great skill. A star compass is used to help memorise the rising and setting points of the brightest and most distinctive stars and planets to set direction.
Navigators steer their waka toward a star on the horizon. When that star rises too high in the sky or sets beneath the horizon, another is chosen, and so on through the night. Seven to 12 stars are enough for one night's navigation, and the moon and bright planets such as Kōpō (Venus) and Pareārau (Jupiter) are also useful.
Navigators steer their waka toward a star on the horizon. When that star rises too high in the sky or sets beneath the horizon, another is chosen, and so on through the night. Seven to 12 stars are enough for one night's navigation, and the moon and bright planets such as Kōpō (Venus) and Pareārau (Jupiter) are also useful.