Meridian Passage of the Stars: Exhaustive Study Guide

Celestial Meridian Passages: Hour 00 to Hour 55

The sequence of celestial meridian passages begins at 0 hrs0\,hrs with the star Alpheratz, known in Maori as Ruawheke Motumotu. This star, located in the constellation Pegasus, has a declination of 29 N29\,N and is positioned in the whare of Ngoi and the Tokerau/Tapararo quadrant. Also passing the meridian at 0 hrs0\,hrs is Caph, or Tuhikura, in the constellation Cassiopeia, which has a declination of 59 N59\,N and is in the whare of Nga Rangi, also within the Tokerau/Tapararo quadrant.

At 1/2 hr1/2\,hr, the star Ankaa, referred to as Te Rongomau, located in the constellation Phoenix, reaches the meridian with a declination of 42 S42\,S. It is in the whare of Manu and the Marangai/Whakarun quadrant. Shortly after, at 3/4 hr3/4\,hr, Diphda, known as Rii Te Uaua, from the constellation Cetus, reaches the meridian at 18 S18\,S. It is associated with the Ra/Kainga whare in the Marangai/Whakarun quadrant. At 1 hr1\,hr, Shedar (Tuhirangi) in Cassiopeia passes the meridian at 56 N56\,N, located in the whare of Nga Rangi within the Tokerau/Tapararo quadrant. This is followed at 1 1/2 hrs1\,1/2\,hrs by Achenar, or Marere-o-Tonga, in Eridanus, with a declination of 57 S57\,S in the whare of Nga Rangi and the Marangai/Whakarun quadrant.

At the 2 hrs2\,hrs mark, two significant stars pass the meridian: Polaris, known as Hokupa'a, with a north declination of 89 N89\,N in the whare of Raki, and Hamal, or Pipirirangi, from the constellation Aries at 24 N24\,N in the Tokerau/Tapararo quadrant. Menkar, known as Rii Ta, in the constellation Cetus, passes at 3 hrs3\,hrs with a declination of 4 N4\,N in the Kainga whare and Whitinga quadrant. Mirfak, or Toarangatira, in Perseus follows at 3 1/2 hrs3\,1/2\,hrs with a declination of 50 N50\,N in the whare of Manu/Nga rangi and the Tokerau/Tapararo quadrant. The Pleiades, or Matariki, pass at 3 3/4 hrs3\,3/4\,hrs at a declination of 24 N24\,N in the whare of Kainga and the Tokerau/Tapararo quadrant. Aldebaran, known as Taumata Kuku, in Taurus passes at 4 1/2 hrs4\,1/2\,hrs at 16 N16\,N in the Ra/Kainga whare and the Tokerau/Tapararo quadrant.

Celestial Meridian Passages: Hour 55 to Hour 1010

The sequence continues at 5 1/4 hrs5\,1/4\,hrs with Capella, or Tautahi o Rongo, in Auriga at 46 N46\,N in the whare of Manu and the Tokerau/Tapararo quadrant. Rigel, known as Puanga, in Orion also passes at 5 1/4 hrs5\,1/4\,hrs at 8 S8\,S in the whare of Ra and the Marangai/Whakarun quadrant. At 5 1/2 hrs5\,1/2\,hrs, Elnath, or Takurua Aio, in Taurus reaches the meridian at 28 N28\,N in the whare of Kainga/Ngoi and the Tokerau/Tapararo quadrant. Mintaka, or Tautoru, in the Orion Belt also passes at 5 1/2 hrs5\,1/2\,hrs at an exact declination of 0′0' in the whare and quadrant of Whitinga.

At 6 hrs6\,hrs, three stars reach the meridian: Betelgeuse (Putara) in Orion at 7 N7\,N in the whare of Ra and the Tokerau/Tapararo quadrant; North Auriga (Rongonui) in Auriga at 45 N45\,N in the whare of Manu and the Tokerau/Tapararo quadrant; and South Auriga (Te Kakau o Rongo) in Auriga at 37 N37\,N in the whare of Kainga and the Tokerau/Tapararo quadrant. Canopus, known as Autahi or Atutahi, reaches the meridian at 6 1/2 hrs6\,1/2\,hrs with a southern declination of 53 S53\,S in the whare of Nga Rangi and the Marangai/Whakarun quadrant. Sirius, referred to as Takurua or Karewa, in Canis Major passes at 6 3/4 hrs6\,3/4\,hrs at a declination of 17 S17\,S in the whare of Ra/Kainga and the Marangai/Whakarun quadrant.

At 7 1/2 hrs7\,1/2\,hrs, Castor, or Whakaahurangi, in Gemini reaches the meridian at 32 N32\,N in the whare of Ngoi and the Tokerau/Tapararo quadrant. Procyon, or Puanga-hori, in Canis Minor followed at 7 3/4 hrs7\,3/4\,hrs with a declination of 5 N5\,N in the whare of Whitinga/Ra and the Tokerau/Tapararo quadrant. Pollux, known as Whakaahukerekere, in Gemini also passes at 7 3/4 hrs7\,3/4\,hrs at 28 N28\,N in the whare of Kainga/Ngoi and the Tokerau/Tapararo quadrant. Avior, known as Mahu, in the False X constellation passes at 8 1/2 hrs8\,1/2\,hrs at 59 S59\,S in the whare of Nga Rangi and the Marangai/Whakarun quadrant. Suhail, known as Te Toko o te Rangi, in Vella passes at 9 1/4 hrs9\,1/4\,hrs at 43 S43\,S in the Manu whare and the Marangai/Whakarun quadrant. Simultaneously, Miaplacidus, or Te Huaki o te Rangi, in the Diamond X reaches the meridian at 70 S70\,S in the whare of Haka and the Marangai/Whakarun quadrant. Alphard, known as Mahuru, in Hydra passes at 9 1/2 hrs9\,1/2\,hrs at 9 S9\,S in the whare of Ra and the Marangai/Whakarun quadrant.

Celestial Meridian Passages: Hour 1010 to Hour 1515

At 10 1/4 hrs10\,1/4\,hrs, Regulus, known as Rereahu, in Leo reaches the meridian at 12 N12\,N in the whare of Ra and the Tokerau/Tapararo quadrant. Two dividers follow at 10 3/4 hrs10\,3/4\,hrs: X Divider Mawake at 49 S49\,S in the Manu whare and the Marangai/Whakarun quadrant, and X Divider Mawakeroa at 64 S64\,S in the whare of Nga Reo and the Marangai/Whakarun quadrant. At 11 hrs11\,hrs, Merak, known as Whiturua, in the Big Dipper reaches the meridian at 56 N56\,N in the whare of Nga Rangi and the Tokerau/Tapararo quadrant. Simultaneously, Dubhe, or Whitutahi, in the Big Dipper passes at a declination of 62 N62\,N in the whare of Nga Rangi/Nga Reo and the Tokerau/Tapararo quadrant. Denebola, known as Whiti Kaupeka a Rereahu, in Leo passes at 11 3/4 hrs11\,3/4\,hrs at 14 N14\,N in the whare of Ra and the Tokerau/Tapararo quadrant, while Phecda, or Whitutoru, in the Big Dipper passes at the same time with a declination of 54 N54\,N in the whare of Nga Rangi and the Tokerau/Tapararo quadrant.

At 12 1/4 hrs12\,1/4\,hrs, Gienah, or Te Manu i te Ra, in Corvus passes at 17 S17\,S in the whare of Ra/Kainga and the Marangai/Whakarun quadrant. Acrux, known as Mahutonga, in the Southern X follows at 12 1/2 hrs12\,1/2\,hrs at 63 S63\,S in the whare of Nga Reo and the Marangai/Whakarun quadrant, joined by Gacrux, known as Te Taki o Autahi, in the Southern X at 57 S57\,S in the Nga Rangi whare and Marangai/Whakarun quadrant. At 12 3/4 hrs12\,3/4\,hrs, Mulifain passes at 49 S49\,S in the Manu whare and Marangai/Whakarun quadrant, while Muska, known as Te Rua Patiki, passes at 69 S69\,S in the Haka whare and Marangai/Whakarun quadrant. Cor Caroli, known as Arikirangi, in Canes Venatici passes at 13 hrs13\,hrs at 38 N38\,N in the whare of Ngoi and the Tokerau/Tapararo quadrant. Alioth, or Whiturima, in the Big Dipper also passes at 13 hrs13\,hrs at 55 N55\,N in the whare of Nga Rangi and the Tokerau/Tapararo quadrant.

At 13 1/2 hrs13\,1/2\,hrs, Spica, known as Mariao, in Virgo reaches the meridian at 11 S11\,S in the whare of Ra and the Marangai/Whakarun quadrant. Alkaid, or Whitupau, in the Big Dipper passes at 13 3/4 hrs13\,3/4\,hrs at 49 N49\,N in the whare of Manu and the Tokerau/Tapararo quadrant. Murphrid, known as Te Whetu Kaupo, in Bootes also passes at 13 3/4 hrs13\,3/4\,hrs at 18 N18\,N in the whare of Ra/Kainga and the Tokerau/Tapararo quadrant. At 14 hrs14\,hrs, Thuban in Draco reaches the meridian at 64 N64\,N in the whare of Nga Reo and the Tokerau/Tapararo quadrant. Hadar, known as Ranginui, in Centaurus passes at 14 hrs14\,hrs at 60 S60\,S in the whare of Nga Rangi and the Marangai/Whakarun quadrant. Arcturus, known as Ruawahia, in Bootes follows at 14 1/4 hrs14\,1/4\,hrs at 19 N19\,N in the whare of Kainga and the Tokerau/Tapararo quadrant. At 14 3/4 hrs14\,3/4\,hrs, three stars reach the meridian: Alpha Centauri (Uruao or Te Whetu Matarau) in Centaurus at 61 S61\,S in the whare of Nga Rangi/Nga Reo and the Marangai/Whakarun quadrant; Kochab, known as Hokumau, in the Little Dipper at 74 N74\,N in the whare of Haka and the Tokerau/Tapararo quadrant; and Zubenalgenubi, known as Te Ara Matua, in Libra at 16 S16\,S in the whare of Ra/Kainga and the Marangai/Whakarun quadrant.

Celestial Meridian Passages: Hour 1515 to Hour 2323

At 15 1/2 hrs15\,1/2\,hrs, Gemma, known as Okokori, in Corona Borealis reaches the meridian at 27 N27\,N in the whare of Kainga/Ngoi and the Tokerau/Tapararo quadrant. Antares, known as Rehua, in Scorpio passes at 16 1/2 hrs16\,1/2\,hrs at 26 S26\,S in the whare of Kainga and the Marangai/Whakarun quadrant. At 16 3/4 hrs16\,3/4\,hrs, Atria, known as Te Ra o Tonga, in Triangulum passes at 69 S69\,S in the whare of Haka and the Marangai/Whakarun quadrant. Rastaban in Draco passes at 17 1/2 hrs17\,1/2\,hrs at 52 N52\,N in the whare of Nga Rangi and the Tokerau/Tapararo quadrant. Simultaneously, Shaula in Scorpio reaches the meridian at 37 S37\,S in the Marangai/Whakarun quadrant. Eltanin in Draco follows at 18 hrs18\,hrs at 52 N52\,N in the whare of Nga Rangi and the Tokerau/Tapararo quadrant.

At 18 1/2 hrs18\,1/2\,hrs, Kaus Australis in Sagittarius passes at 34 S34\,S in the Marangai/Whakarun quadrant, and Vega, known as Uruao, in Lyra passes at 39 N39\,N in the whare of Ngoi and the Tokerau/Tapararo quadrant. Altair, or Tureikura, in Aquilla passes at 19 3/4 hrs19\,3/4\,hrs at 9 N9\,N in the whare of Ra/Ngoi/Manu and the Tokerau/Tapararo quadrant. Peacock in Pavo follows at 20 1/2 hrs20\,1/2\,hrs at a declination of 57 S57\,S in the Nga Rangi whare and the Marangai/Whakarun quadrant. At 20 3/4 hrs20\,3/4\,hrs, Deneb, known as Whanui, in Cygnus reaches the meridian at 45 N45\,N in the Manu whare and the Tokerau/Tapararo quadrant.

At 21 1/4 hrs21\,1/4\,hrs, Aldermin in Cephus reaches the meridian at 62 N62\,N in the whare of Nga Rangi/Nga Reo and the Tokerau/Tapararo quadrant. Alna'ir, known as Poututerangi, in Grus follows at 22 hrs22\,hrs at 47 S47\,S in the Manu whare and the Marangai/Whakarun quadrant. The sequence concludes at 23 hrs23\,hrs with Formalhaut, known as Marewa i te Rangi, in Piscis Austranis at 29 S29\,S in the whare of Kainga/Ngoi and the Marangai/Whakarun quadrant; Markab, known as Whatitiripapa, in Pegasus at 15 N15\,N in the whare of Ra and the Tokerau/Tapararo quadrant. Additional names listed include Takurua Parewai, Otamarakau, and Te Whare Pungarehu.