Aboriginal people of central Australia appear to have known about the variable star Betelgeuse, long before modern European astronomers, according to a new study.
The discovery reported in the Journal of Astronomical History and Heritage, was uncovered while examining the records of famous amateur anthropologist Daisy Bates.
Early last century, Bates spent 16 years living among the people of South Australia's Great Victoria Desert, recording their language, customs, and oral traditions, according to one of the study's authors, Dr Duane Hamacher of the University of New South Wales.
Hamacher and co-author Trevor Leaman collected Bates' published accounts and journal entries as part of an ongoing project to develop a complete picture of Aboriginal sky knowledge and star lore.
Read thew full story at ABC Science