Navajo star and constellation myths, including the story of the creation of stars, will be explored during a live astronomy show at the Fiske Planetarium on the campus of the University of Colorado at Boulder.
John Stocke, a CU-Boulder professor of astrophysical and planetary sciences, will present "Navajo Skies" at Fiske Planetarium on Friday, Nov. 5, at 7:30 p.m.
The talk, based in part on Stocke聮s interviews with two Navajo medicine men several years ago, includes excerpts from taped conversations with the men and delves into the Navajo relationship between the cycle of life and the rhythm of the heavens.
"It聮s an interesting look at a culture that isn聮t too far from here," Stocke said.
Professor Stocke interviewed the medicine men at Gates Planetarium in Denver during the late 1970s as part of a research project he undertook while teaching at the Navajo Community College in Tsaile, Ariz.
While Stocke聮s current research focuses on the observation of distant objects, he believes people need to connect with the stars and the sky in other ways too.
"Many people in the Western world today are disconnected from the environment," Stocke said. "Because of their circumstances 聴 living in remote areas 聴 many native people are still much more connected to the environment, including the sky.
"Looking at these traditions allows us a different perspective."
Tickets for the show go on sale at 7 p.m. the night of the show and are $4 for adults and $3 for children and seniors. For more information contact the Fiske Planetarium at (303) 492-5001.