## 5 Indigenous Astronomy
### Ancient Polynesian Peoples and Peoples of Polynesian Descent  
For ancient Polynesian peoples, the sky served many roles. The passage of time could be read from \"[t]he motions of the heavenly bodies across the sky\" ([PERSON], 1938, p. 381), and the seasonal changes were determined in a similar way. The information obtained from these skyward observations were central to the peoples' way of life, with [PERSON] highlighting that \"it was essential to recognise in advance the proper time for planting the various crops, when the winds might be depended upon for long voyages\" ([PERSON], 1938, pp. 381-82) and the seasonal weather changes.  
Furthermore, a practice strongly associated with the ancient Polynesian peoples is seaward voyaging and wayfinding by way of the sky and stars. It is recognised that \"[t]o the ancient Polynesian navigator, the sky, particularly the night sky, was a compass, chart, and chronometer. Point out a star to him, and he would tell you the islands to which that star would lead you if you steered your canoe toward the point where it rose or set at the horizon\" ([PERSON], 1938, p. 381). [PERSON], in researching the peoples of Polynesia and Micronesia noted \"the bold range of Pacific voyaging, even in contact times, and the excellence of indigenous navigational systems\" ([PERSON], 1974, p. 145), highlighting both the historical roots of ancient Polynesian wayfinding knowledge, but also how it survived post-European contact. Thus, this knowledge of how to navigate one's way across the sea from what is visible to the naked eye in the sky is an important part of ancient Polynesian knowledge. This knowledge has been transferred intergenerationally \"without the benefit of written communication\" ([PERSON] et al., 2020, p. 1280)1 in the communities of Polynesian descent, but also remains living knowledge, as it must be recognised that \"it is not just ancient peoples who carefully track the stars, sun and moon. Many living Indigenous societies follow their ancient knowledge in ways to live today\" ([PERSON], 2020, p. 20).  
Footnote 11: [PERSON] et al. (2020) makes reference to the “sophistication and details of their geographic understanding and seafaring techniques” contained within the Indigenous knowledge that is transmitted through oral traditions, as had been mentioned by ([PERSON] et al., 2003).  
However, to view the stars of the night sky is becoming increasingly difficult because, as it was previously noted, many of the satellites forming the constellations in LEO are also visible to the naked eye, despite attempts such as those made by SpaceX in creating 'VisorSats' (satellites with visors attached to reduce the reflection of sunlight from satellites in Starlink) from August 2020, which reduced visibility but did not get rid of it completely ([PERSON], 2021). The ability to read the constellations of stars could become impossible to navigate with the naked eye due to numerous reflective satellites now occupying what was previously darkness. The need to maintain dark skies, while essential to many Indigenous Peoples, is emphasised by [PERSON] et al. as being especially important \"for celestial navigators and the practice of wayfinding by those cultures of Polynesian descent (Hawai'i, Maori and Oceania peoples)\" ([PERSON] et al., 2019, p. 1037).  
Thus, this Indigenous wayfinding knowledge, so integral to ancient Polynesian peoples and forming a part of the Indigenous astronomical knowledge and heritage of peoples of Polynesian descent today, could be prevented from being practised and transferred intergenerationally within these communities should satellite constellations continue to be approved and formed.