Orion Constellation

Key Features of Orion

1. Orion’s Belt

• Three bright stars—Alnitak, Alnilam, and Mintaka—aligned in a straight row.

• These stars form the “belt” and are easy to spot even in light-polluted skies.

2. Brightest Stars in Orion

• Betelgeuse (pronounced "beetle-juice") – A red supergiant marking Orion’s right shoulder. It’s one of the largest visible stars and varies in brightness.

• Rigel – A bright blue-white star marking Orion’s left foot. It's among the brightest stars in the sky.

3. Orion’s Sword

• Located just below the Belt.

• Includes the Orion Nebula (M42)—a glowing cloud of gas and dust where new stars are forming. It’s visible with the naked eye as a fuzzy spot, better seen with binoculars or a telescope.

4. Shape

• Orion resembles a person with a raised arm (holding a club) and the other arm extended forward (holding a shield).

• The “belt and sword” form the midsection, with legs and shoulders framed by bright stars.

When and Where to See Orion

• Northern Hemisphere: Best seen from November to February, high in the southern sky.

• Southern Hemisphere: Appears upside down, visible in summer (December to March).

Cultural Significance

• Greek mythology: Orion was a mighty hunter placed among the stars by Zeus.

• Egyptians: Associated Orion with Osiris, god of the afterlife.

• Mayan, Chinese, and Aboriginal cultures: Each had unique interpretations of Orion’s shape and meaning.

Fun Facts

• Orion’s Belt points east-west, helping navigate the night sky.

• A line through Orion’s Belt stars points to Sirius (the brightest star) and Aldebaran (in Taurus).

• Betelgeuse is expected to explode in a supernova someday—possibly in the next 100,000 years.