Norse Cosmos

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Abstract: The Vikings were Norse seafarers, who from the late 8th to late 11th centuries, raided and traded from their Northern European homelands. However, what do we know about their view of the world? How did the Norse believe the Universe came into existence? In this lecture I will discuss the early cosmotheism of the Norse and how their mythology explains their view of the world and wider Cosmos. Moreover, I will provide an overview of what we know about the Norse constellations and how they differ from the contemporary view of the night sky as used by astronomers today.

Bio: Paul Curnow (B.Ed) is a world renowned and award-winning astronomer, teacher, and author. He is regarded as Australia's leading planetarium specialist on Australian Aboriginal constellations and star names. Moreover, Paul runs several popular courses for the public that focus on the constellations, planetary astronomy, meteoritics, historical astronomy and ethnoastronomy, which primarily deals with how the night sky is seen by non-western cultures. He has lectured both internationally and locally, including giving talks at prestigious universities & institutions such as the Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles, California; the Lowell Observatory in Tucson, Arizona; Northeast State Community College in Blountville, Tennessee, La Roche University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; and at the Carter Observatory in Wellington, New Zealand. He is South Australia’s longest serving planetarian and has worked for…