All You See is Past: Histories of Star Knowledge

Stargazing is a timeless, shared activity that connects us across cultures and generations. But have you ever considered that when you look up at the night sky, you’re actually looking at history? Because light takes time to travel across the vastness of space, the starlight reaching your eyes is coming from the past. Host Dr. Chantel Rodríguez speaks with three keepers of star knowledge to explore how communities have connected to the cosmos. Ron Schmit and Dr. Cindy Blaha talk about western astronomy and the role of observatories in stargazing and time-keeping. Jim Rock shares Dakota cosmology and the science of Indigenous sky observation. Join us as we look up, get curious, and ask big questions: Why do we look to the stars? What is our role in the cosmos? And how has star knowledge been passed down through generations?  For more information on Dakota star knowledge, please watch this video from Jim Rock and Dakota artist Marlena Myles.