<p>This is from an article in the <a href="https://theconversation.com/how-far-theyll-go-moana-shows-the-power-of-polynesian-celestial-navigation-72375" rel="noreferrer">Conversation</a>, by Duane W. Hamacher, and Carla Bento Guedes:</p>

<p>"Voyagers measure the angles between stars and the horizon using their hands. The width of your pinkie finger at arm’s length is roughly one degree, or double the angular diameter of the Sun or Moon.</p>

<p>Hold your hand with the palm facing outward and thumb fully extended, touching the horizon. Each part of your hand is used to measure a particular altitude.</p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/Bmtfo.png" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/Bmtfo.png" alt="Finding North"></a></p>

<p>The hand method used by Nainoa Thompson to find the altitude of the Polaris. Journal of the Polynesian Society
In Hawai'i, the “North Star”, Polaris, is Hokupa'a, meaning “fixed star”. It lies close to the north celestial pole. The altitude of Hokupa'a indicates your northerly latitude.</p>

<p>In the film, we see Moana Waialiki using this technique to measure the altitude of a group of stars. Look closely and you can see that she’s measuring the stars in Orion’s Belt. The position of Moana’s hand indicates the star above her index finger has an altitude of 21º. Given that the movie takes place about 2,000 years ago near Samoa, the position of Orion indicates they are travelling exactly due East.</p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/xkziE.jpg" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/xkziE.jpg" alt="Moana&#39;s measurement"></a></p>

<p>Moana measures altitude of Orion’s belt stars. Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Later in the film, we see Moana navigating by following Maui’s fish hook. In the various Polynesian traditions, the hook was used to pull islands from the sea. It is represented by the constellation Scorpius, which rises at dusk in mid-May. This indicates southeasterly travel.</p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/DKEeZ.png" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/DKEeZ.png" alt="Scorpius"></a></p>

<p>Looking at Scorpius - Maui’s Hook - in the same orientation as shown in the film. Stellarium
However, the positions of the stars are not fixed in time. Over the 3,500 years that Polynesians have been exploring the Pacific, the stars have gradually shifted due to precession of the equinoxes.</p>

<p>From the latitude of Samoa, the Southern Cross has lowered from 60º altitude in 1500 BCE to 41º today. Those navigating by the stars must gradually adjust their measurements as the positions of stars slowly shift over time."</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-06-30T04:13:01.967Z
Thank you! Seems I was completely on the wrong track with measuring the south celestial pole, but this makes a lot of sense.
rosuav
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-09-15T05:42:55.680Z
Unless I'm missing something here, the last paragraph of this answer is incorrect. On average, a star shifts 0.1 arc seconds per year.  That means it would take 3,600 years to shift a single degree (two widths of the full Moon.)  Instead of a 19º shift, it is more like a 3,521 arc second shift, or a 0.97º shift.   Remember, various cultures' astronomical and astrological systems that existed in 1500 BCE, and even earlier, are rooted in the very same constellations we can still see today.
JasonGabler
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-06-29T22:58:14.610Z
2017-06-29T22:58:14.610Z
Albatross
<p>In Disney's "Moana", we get a hint of a Polynesian wayfinding technique of holding your hand to "measure the stars" (note, you're not giving the sky a high-five). We get to see two different constellations measured: Crux (the Southern Cross), and Orion.</p>

<p>By matching the positions of the stars either in real life or on Stellarium, I was able to figure out something of how the Southern Cross is used. You place your fingers against the four brightest stars (two pointers plus the two brightest of the cross itself), and then the south celestial pole is right in the curve of your outstretched thumb. <em>(Aside: It makes an awesome demo in Stellarium to place your hand on the screen, do the measurements, and then turn on the grid, highlighting the south pole beautifully.)</em></p>

<p>What I haven't managed to do, though, is match the corresponding measurement in Orion. The fingers are placed near Orion's belt and heel, but I can't figure out what is being measured. Can anyone provide either certain information, or plausible guesses?</p>

<p>(I can provide a screencap if there's an appropriate way to include it in the question.)</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-02-21T12:12:05.810Z
It would be very  helpful to draw a diagram of the night sky w/ Orion and the placment of your fingers. Further, if the movie doesn't state what is being measured or determined, why are the characters doing the measurement?
Carl Witthoft
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-02-21T13:16:27.883Z
The movie doesn't state specifically, but they're working out how to get to where they want to go (or perhaps how to get home after). Wayfinding involves reading the winds, the tides, and the stars. I'm interested in the latter part.
rosuav
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-02-21T13:16:33.617Z
Re diagram - is it okay to include a screencap from the movie itself, and if so, how? @CarlWitthoft
rosuav
<constellations>
Polynesian wayfinding techniques - how does this work?
rosuav
# Polynesian wayfinding techniques - how does this work?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2017-02-20)

In Disney's "Moana", we get a hint of a Polynesian wayfinding technique of holding your hand to "measure the stars" (note, you're not giving the sky a high-five). We get to see two different constellations measured: Crux (the Southern Cross), and Orion.

By matching the positions of the stars either in real life or on Stellarium, I was able to figure out something of how the Southern Cross is used. You place your fingers against the four brightest stars (two pointers plus the two brightest of the cross itself), and then the south celestial pole is right in the curve of your outstretched thumb. *(Aside: It makes an awesome demo in Stellarium to place your hand on the screen, do the measurements, and then turn on the grid, highlighting the south pole beautifully.)*

What I haven't managed to do, though, is match the corresponding measurement in Orion. The fingers are placed near Orion's belt and heel, but I can't figure out what is being measured. Can anyone provide either certain information, or plausible guesses?

(I can provide a screencap if there's an appropriate way to include it in the question.)

**Tags:** constellations

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: It would be very  helpful to draw a diagram of the night sky w/ Orion and the placment of your fingers. Further, if the movie doesn't state what is being measured or determined, why are the characters doing the measurement?  
> **username_0**: The movie doesn't state specifically, but they're working out how to get to where they want to go (or perhaps how to get home after). Wayfinding involves reading the winds, the tides, and the stars. I'm interested in the latter part.  
> **username_0**: Re diagram - is it okay to include a screencap from the movie itself, and if so, how? @username_1  

---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2017-06-29. Score: 6 | Accepted answer

This is from an article in the [Conversation](https://theconversation.com/how-far-theyll-go-moana-shows-the-power-of-polynesian-celestial-navigation-72375), by Duane W. Hamacher, and Carla Bento Guedes:

"Voyagers measure the angles between stars and the horizon using their hands. The width of your pinkie finger at arm’s length is roughly one degree, or double the angular diameter of the Sun or Moon.

Hold your hand with the palm facing outward and thumb fully extended, touching the horizon. Each part of your hand is used to measure a particular altitude.

[![Finding North](https://i.sstatic.net/Bmtfo.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/Bmtfo.png)

The hand method used by Nainoa Thompson to find the altitude of the Polaris. Journal of the Polynesian Society
In Hawai'i, the “North Star”, Polaris, is Hokupa'a, meaning “fixed star”. It lies close to the north celestial pole. The altitude of Hokupa'a indicates your northerly latitude.

In the film, we see Moana Waialiki using this technique to measure the altitude of a group of stars. Look closely and you can see that she’s measuring the stars in Orion’s Belt. The position of Moana’s hand indicates the star above her index finger has an altitude of 21º. Given that the movie takes place about 2,000 years ago near Samoa, the position of Orion indicates they are travelling exactly due East.

[![Moana's measurement](https://i.sstatic.net/xkziE.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/xkziE.jpg)

Moana measures altitude of Orion’s belt stars. Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Later in the film, we see Moana navigating by following Maui’s fish hook. In the various Polynesian traditions, the hook was used to pull islands from the sea. It is represented by the constellation Scorpius, which rises at dusk in mid-May. This indicates southeasterly travel.

[![Scorpius](https://i.sstatic.net/DKEeZ.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/DKEeZ.png)

Looking at Scorpius - Maui’s Hook - in the same orientation as shown in the film. Stellarium
However, the positions of the stars are not fixed in time. Over the 3,500 years that Polynesians have been exploring the Pacific, the stars have gradually shifted due to precession of the equinoxes.

From the latitude of Samoa, the Southern Cross has lowered from 60º altitude in 1500 BCE to 41º today. Those navigating by the stars must gradually adjust their measurements as the positions of stars slowly shift over time."

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Thank you! Seems I was completely on the wrong track with measuring the south celestial pole, but this makes a lot of sense.  
> **username_3**: Unless I'm missing something here, the last paragraph of this answer is incorrect. On average, a star shifts 0.1 arc seconds per year.  That means it would take 3,600 years to shift a single degree (two widths of the full Moon.)  Instead of a 19º shift, it is more like a 3,521 arc second shift, or a 0.97º shift.   Remember, various cultures' astronomical and astrological systems that existed in 1500 BCE, and even earlier, are rooted in the very same constellations we can still see today.  

---

