Skylore from Planet Earth: Stories from Around the World...: Comets & Meteors

By Dayle L. Brown

The starry night sky has always filled us with wonder. Down through the ages we have looked to the skies for guidance from the images of our heroes, gods, and monsters. Storytellers have illustrated their mythologies and legends with it, passing on to future generations the customs of their people. Many of these stories have survived to the present.
In this Skylore from Planet Earth we explore some of the stories about COMETS & METEORS. People from the entire planet have looked to it for a reminder of their own traditions. Fifteen richly illustrated stories take the reader on a trip around the world, giving a glimpse into the histories and cultures of the planets early civilizations.
The six books in this series feature sky phenomena as seen from early cultures around the world. Read stories about the constellation ORION; the star cluster PLEIADES; our galaxy, MILKY WAY; the planet, VENUS; and this final book, COMETS & METEORS.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Jan 30, 2015
• ISBN: 9781496966643

Dayle L. Brown

During her over thirty years of teaching, Dayle Brown specialized in planetarium education, finding that a planetarium is the perfect classroom for teaching astronomy related subjects. She discovered that storytelling becomes even more magical while gazing up at a starry sky. Storytelling is a wonderful way to introduce children to past and present cultures of the world. In 1993 and 1994 Ms. Brown served as co-director of NSF Leadership Institutes in astronomy and space science, and in 2001 was a writer for Indiana Science Curriculum Frameworks Document. As the owner/director of Pegasus Productions, Ms. Brown provides astronomy related presentations to schools and the public. She presents papers and workshops about planetarium education and storytelling under the stars at professional conferences. Ms. Brown left the classroom to continue her work as a planetarium educator and to pursue her love of art. Her award winning watercolor paintings have shown in area museums and galleries. She has received commissions and grants for her artwork. Currently, Ms. Brown serves as president-elect of the Great Lakes Planetarium Society, past president on the Board of Directors of the South Bend Museum of Art, recording secretary for the Art League (auxiliary to the SBMA), and Chair of the Garden Search committee for the Art League’s “Arts in Bloom” Garden Walk. Ms. Brown lives with her husband, David Piser, in South Bend, IN. They enjoy spending time with their children and grandchildren as well as pursuing their many interests.

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© 2015 Dayle L. Brown. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 02/04/2015

ISBN: 978-1-4969-6663-6 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4969-6664-3 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2015901525

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Contents

Introduction

Europe

Phaethon’s Fall (Greek/Roman)

Demon’s Horse (Finland)

Valkyries (Scandinavia)

Africa

Angels’ Weapons (Islam, Africa)

Kinship (San, Kalahari)

Middle East

Scorpion’s Tail (Babylon, Iraq)

Asia

Di-Xing (China)

Dragon’s Tail (Hindu, India)

El-Gabal (Syria - Rome)

Australia

Mangowa & Pirili (Aborigine, Australia)

New Zealand

Gift of Fire (Maori, New Zealand)

North America

Moctezuma’s Comet (Aztec, Mexico)

The Burning Star (Salish/Kutenai, Canada)

World Fire (Wintun, USA)

South America

Jaguar (Yekuana, Venezuela)

Comets

Meteors

Credits

Glossary

Comets and Meteors are often related.

Most meteors come from the tails of comets or once in a while an asteroid. When it passes, it leaves behind a lot of particles. Most of these particles are very tiny. Occasionally, one may be as large as ten tons!! In 2013, a large asteroid meteor streaked over mountains in Russia. One theory for the extinction of the dinosaurs was a large meteorite striking the earth off the coast of Mexico.

In 1833 people watching a meteor shower described the meteors as flakes of snow. Others, believing that the meteors were falling stars, thought that there would be no stars left in the sky.

Sadly, many of the stories about comets are those of predictions of disaster. The word disaster even means evil star. Many cultures from around the world have thought this to be true.

Luckily, today we realize that both are spectacular celestial events. At the end of this book you can learn a little more about each of these events.

A few primitive cultures have delightful stories about Comets and Meteors. Read on to discover stories that tell a little about the early