Orion: The Hunter
Pronunciation: oh-RYE-un
| Orion Constellation Profile | |
|---|---|
| Abbreviation: Ori | Genitive: Orionis |
| Origin: Ancient | Location: Celestial Equator |
| Best View (North): Winter | Best View (South): |
| Bordering Constellations: Taurus, Eridanus, Lepus, Monoceros, Gemini | |
The Myth Behind the Constellation Orion
Orion, The Hunter, was a giant renowned for his hunting skill. But he was also boastful, a trait that is sure to get you in trouble with the gods. Orion bragged that there was no beast that could kill him. Upon hearing this Hera sent a little scorpion (see Scorpius) to sting him. Orion smashed the scorpion but it was too late; it had fatally stung him. Both were placed in the stars, on opposite sides of the sky, so they are never in the heavens at the same time.Orion Constellation Points of Interest
| Interesting Objects in the Constellation Orion | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Messier | NGC | Type | Visibility |
| Orion Nebula | M42 | NGC 1976 | Nebula | Naked-Eye |
| De Mairan’s Nebula | M43 | NGC 1982 | Nebula | Binoculars |
| M78 | NGC 2068 | Diffuse Nebula | Binoculars | |
Bright Stars in Orion
These are the stars in Orion with a minimum magnitude of 3.0.| Name | Bayer Name | Magnitude | Color | Luminosity | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rigel | Beta Orionis | .18 | Blue | 51,194 suns | 773 ly |
| Betelgeuse | Alpha Orionis | 0.42 | Red | 100,000 suns | 640 ly |
| Bellatrix | Gamma Orionis | 1.64 | Blue-White | 6,003 suns | 243 ly |
| Alnilam | Epsilon Orionis | 1.68 | Blue | 112,435 suns | 1359 ly |
| Alnitak | Zeta Orionis | 1.71 | Blue | 47,480 suns | 826 ly |
| Saiph | Kappa Orionis | 2.07 | Blue-White | 19,159 suns | 725 ly |
| Mintaka | Delta Orionis | 2.25 | Blue | 27,709 suns | 919 ly |
| Hatsya | Iota Orionis | 2.75 | Blue | 53,665 suns | 1325 ly |