EXPLORE THE MYTHICAL NANDU: A CONSTELLATION IN THE NIGHT SKY.

The night sky has served as a canvas for the myths and legends that echo the traditions and narratives of civilizations worldwide. Our society has traditionally created constellations by connecting specific star clusters, bringing to life the tales of our ancestors.

However, cultures, particularly those from the southern hemisphere, adopted a unique philosophy. Rather than using stars, they utilized dark nebulae to create distinctive constellations.

One of the most renowned among these is the constellation that stands out amidst the dark nebulae that overlays the Milky Way's trail, as depicted in the image provided. Intriguingly, cultures located thousands of miles apart have identified a bird-like shape within these dark nebulae. The indigenous people of Uruguay, for instance, refer to it as the Nandu, while the Australian Aborigines perceive it as an emu.

The Coal Sack Nebula, situated 600 light-years away from our planet, represents the bird's head. The bird's neck follows the Milky Way's curvature before expanding to form its body.

This mesmerizing image was captured last April in Cabo Polonio, a quaint Uruguayan coastal village facing the Atlantic Ocean. The figure seen in the foreground is a statue of María Micaela Guyunusa, a native woman from the Charrua tribe who symbolizes resistance against colonialism in the 1800s.

Photo credit/ Fefo Bouvier.