<h2>Tongan (Tonga)</h2>
<p>As in all Polynesian star lore, Tongan sky culture descends from 
the practical application of nautical navigation. In some 
circumstances separation of individual star names from &quot;star path&quot; 
names cannot be resolved. A star may have multiple names 1) if the 
star is part of numerous star paths and 2) since the naming of stars 
can differ depending on which Tongan island group it originates from.  
The nomenclature of stars is approximated based on the limited 
resources available.  </p>

<p>Whilst the most-notable/common stars and constellations (i.e. Orion,
Pleiades, Crux) are identified in Tongan star lore there are two
notable exceptions. There is an absence of naming of the North star
(Polaris: &alpha; UMi). This is peculiar considering the latitude of the
Tongan islands and the prominence of this star at certain times of
the year. In the event of any northerly journeys from Tonga such an
important navigational landmark could not have possibly gone
unnoticed. The constellation of Scorpio (parts in, or stars of) are
also absent from Tongan star lore. This is surprising since the vast
majority of star lore &ndash; globally and Polynesian &ndash; has Scorpio as a
central constellation due to it being easily identified and that it
is nearly directly opposite Orion in the night sky. [Stellarium would
welcome any further knowledge on these two anomalies.]</p>

<p>Common ancestry of Polynesian star lore's is evident in the
similarities in the labelling of stars. For example the Pleiades is
called Mataliki in Tongan, Matariki in Maori and Makali`i in Hawaiian.
</p>

<h3>References</h3>
<ol>
<li>Velt Kik, <em>Ko E Ngaahi fetu'u 'o, Stars over tonga</em>,  1990 
'Atenisi University, Nuku'alofa , Tonga Government printing department.</li>
<li>T.H Fale, <em>Tongan astronomy</em>,  1990
Polynesian Eyes foundation, Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Choice printing.</li>
<li>E. E. V. Collocott, <em>Tongan astronomy and calendar</em>, 1992
Occasional Papers of the Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum of
Polynesian ethnology and Natural History, Vol.8, No. 4
Honolulu, Hawaii, Bishop Museum Press 1922, p. 157-173. </li>
</ol>

<h3>Nomenclature</h3>
<table class="nomenclature">
<tr><th>Tongan term</th><th>Designation</th></tr>
<tr><td>Humu</td><td>Coal sack</td></tr>
<tr><td>Kaniva</td><td>Milky Way</td></tr>
<tr><td>Ma'afulele</td><td>Large Magellan cloud</td></tr>
<tr><td>Ma'afutoka</td><td>Small Magellan cloud</td></tr>
<tr><td>'otu Ma'afu</td><td>Magellanic clouds (both)</td></tr>
<tr><td>Ha'amonga</td><td>Ecliptic</td></tr>
<tr><td>Mahina</td><td>Moon</td></tr>
<tr><td>La'a</td><td>Sun</td></tr>
<tr><td>Fetu'u</td><td>Star (in general)</td></tr>
<tr><td>Fetu'ufuka</td><td>Comet</td></tr>
<tr><td>'Umata</td><td>Rainbow</td></tr>
<tr><td>Fetu'u'Esiafi</td><td>Falling star</td></tr>
<tr><td>tapukitea</td><td>Venus</td></tr>
<tr><td>Matamemea</td><td>Mars</td></tr>
<tr><td>Ma'afutoka (same as LMC)</td><td>Canopus</td></tr>
<tr><td>Ma'afulele (same as SMC)</td><td>Sirius</td></tr>
<tr><td>Velitoa hififo</td><td>Rigel</td></tr>
<tr><td>Velitoa hahake</td><td>Beteleguese</td></tr>
<tr><td>Hikule'o</td><td>Arcturus</td></tr>
<tr><td>Monuafe</td><td>Meissa</td></tr>
<tr><td>Motuliki</td><td>Pleiades</td></tr>
<tr><td>Tu'ulalupe</td><td>Hyades</td></tr>
<tr><td>Toloatonga</td><td>Southern Cross</td></tr>
<tr><td>Toloalahi</td><td>False Cross</td></tr>
</table>

<strong>Tongan constellations</strong>
<table class="nomenclature">
<tr><th>Tongan name</th><th>Designation or notes</th></tr>
<tr><td>Tuinga ika</td><td>Part of Orion, belt and sword</td></tr>
<tr><td>Ae e'Uvea</td><td>Corona Borealis (<em>Speculative</em>)</td></tr>
<tr><td>Fatanalua</td><td>Coma Berenices (<em>Speculative</em>)</td></tr>
<tr><td>Kapakau'o'tafahi</td><td>Cassiopeia (<em>Speculative</em>)</td></tr>
<tr><td>Toloa</td><td>Belt of Orion</td></tr>
<tr><td>Lua tangata</td><td>Castor and/or Pollux</td></tr>
<tr><td>Fungasia</td><td>Toliman and/or Agena</td></tr>
<tr><td>Houmatoloa (Toloa, toloatonga, toloalahi)</td><td>&mdash;</td></tr>
</table>

<h3>Author</h3>
<p>This sky culture was contributed by Stellarium user <i>Dan Smale</i>, d.smale(at)niwa.co.nz</p>