Atutahi
A tapu star of Māori lore, solitary outside the Milky Way.
Atutahi is the Māori name for Canopus (Alpha Carinae), the second brightest star in the night-time sky after Sirius (Takurua). It is considered a very tapu (sacred) star in Māori tradition, noted for its solitary position outside the Milky Way and its association with kūmara cultivation.
Quick Facts
- Brightness rank
- second brightest star in the night-time sky
- Constellation
- Carinae
- Alternative names
- Aotahi
- Autahi
- Atutahi-mā-Rehua
- Associated star
- Puanga (Rigel)
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
In Māori mythology, Atutahi is the name of Canopus. The star is also known as Aotahi, Autahi, and Atutahi, names meaning 'First-light' or 'Single-light,' which intimate its solitary or self-centered nature. Atutahi is considered a very tapu star and always dwells alone, a characteristic seen in its position outside the Milky Way. One story tells how Atutahi was left outside the basket representing the Milky Way when Tane wove it. Another myth says that Autahi was the first-born child of Rangi, who refused to enter the Milky Way, turning it sideways and rising before it. The same name is used for other stars and constellations throughout Polynesia.
Reader's Guide
Atutahi held a special place among the stars known to the Māori, along with Rigel (Puanga), because of their intimate association with kūmara cultivation. The appearance of Atutahi and Puanga in the eastern sky was the sign for planting to begin. Additionally, these two stars could be used to foretell the weather. The star's solitary nature and tapu status reflect its unique role in Māori cosmology, where its position outside the Milky Way reinforces its separation from other celestial bodies. The various myths—such as being left out of Tane's basket or being the first-born child of Rangi who refused to enter the Milky Way—underscore its independent and sacred character. Across Polynesia, the name Atutahi or its variants are applied to other stars and constellations, indicating a broader cultural significance beyond Māori tradition.
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