From Richard Oertel
Neil de Grasse Tyson applauds the naming of some constellations after scientific instruments rather than mythological characters, apparently seeing this as a triumph for the underdog (10 April, p 46). But he is quoted as saying “the southern hemisphere did not have the benefit of centuries of creative mythological thought”.
On the contrary, the southern hemisphere’s many native peoples created a rich mythology associated with the night sky, along with their own names for the constellations. As always, the European explorers of the past felt that something only had a proper name if they gave it one – even the constellations. As a self-declared “champion of the underdog”, de Grasse Tyson seems to have missed the real underdogs in the naming game.
Whyalla, South Australia
