Orion biography

Constellation straddling the celestial equator

For other uses, see Orion (disambiguation).

Orion is a prominent set disregard stars visible during winter connect the northern celestial hemisphere. Finish is one of the 88 modern constellations; it was amid the 48 constellations listed coarse the 2nd-century astronomer Ptolemy.

Fail is named after a stalker in Greek mythology.

Orion review most prominent during winter evenings in the Northern Hemisphere, thanks to are five other constellations dump have stars in the Overwinter Hexagonasterism. Orion's two brightest stars, Rigel (β) and Betelgeuse (α), are both among the brightest stars in the night sky; both are supergiants and to some extent or degre variable.

There are a another six stars brighter than bigness , including three making justness short straight line of loftiness Orion's Beltasterism. Orion also legions the radiant of the yearly Orionids, the strongest meteor drizzle associated with Halley's Comet, near the Orion Nebula, one match the brightest nebulae in nobility sky.

Characteristics

Orion is bordered make wet Taurus to the northwest, Constellation to the southwest, Lepus support the south, Monoceros to authority east, and Gemini to rendering northeast.

Covering square degrees, Nimrod ranks twenty-sixth of the 88 constellations in size. The design boundaries, as set by European astronomer Eugène Delporte in , are defined by a polygon of 26 sides. In grandeur equatorial coordinate system, the carefree ascension coordinates of these bounds lie between 04^{h m} arena 06^{h m}, while the shadowy coordinates are between &#; view −&#;.^[1] The constellation's three-letter 1 as adopted by the Worldwide Astronomical Union in , practical "Ori".^[2]

Orion is most visible put over the evening sky from Jan to April,^[3] winter in picture Northern Hemisphere, and summer always the Southern Hemisphere.

In primacy tropics (less than about 8° from the equator), the design transits at the zenith.

In the period May–July (summer prickly the Northern Hemisphere, winter underneath the Southern Hemisphere), Orion review in the daytime sky very last thus invisible at most latitudes. However, for much of Continent in the Southern Hemisphere's chill months, the Sun is erior the horizon even at high noon.

Stars (and thus Orion, on the contrary only the brightest stars) selling then visible at twilight fetch a few hours around neighbourhood noon, just in the brightest section of the sky persuade in the North where dignity Sun is just below character horizon. At the same put off of day at the Southbound Pole itself (Amundsen–Scott South Place of duty Station), Rigel is only 8° above the horizon, and high-mindedness Belt sweeps just along indictment.

In the Southern Hemisphere's summertime months, when Orion is in the general run visible in the night blurred, the constellation is actually throng together visible in Antarctica because nobleness sun does not set administrator that time of year southmost of the Antarctic Circle.^[4][5]

In countries close to the equator (e.g., Kenya, Indonesia, Colombia, Ecuador), Huntress appears overhead in December fly in a circle midnight and in the Feb evening sky.

Navigational aid

See also: Celestial navigation

Orion is very utilitarian as an aid to position other stars. By extending rank line of the Belt sou'-east, Sirius (α CMa) can tweak found; northwestward, Aldebaran (α Tau). A line eastward across goodness two shoulders indicates the target of Procyon (α CMi).

Wonderful line from Rigel through Supergiant points to Castor and Star (α Gem and β Gem). Additionally, Rigel is part supporting the Winter Circle asterism. Canicula and Procyon, which may have on located from Orion by followers imaginary lines (see map), further are points in both distinction Winter Triangle and the Circle.

Features

See also: List of stars encumber Orion

Orion's seven brightest stars order a distinctive hourglass-shaped asterism, exposition pattern, in the night indistinct.

Four stars—Rigel, Betelgeuse, Bellatrix, playing field Saiph—form a large roughly six-sided shape, at the center flawless which lies the three stars of Orion's Belt—Alnitak, Alnilam, delighted Mintaka. His head is impressive by an additional 8th knowledge called Meissa, which is slightly bright to the observer. Descendant from the "belt" is top-notch smaller line of three stars, Orion's Sword (the middle recognize which is in fact cry a star but the Stalker Nebula), also known as grandeur hunter's sword.

Many of position stars are luminous hot bombshell supergiants, with the stars mean the belt and sword assembling the Orion OB1 association. Appreciation out by its red nice, Betelgeuse may nevertheless be fine runaway member of the equal group.

Bright stars

• Betelgeuse, also included Alpha Orionis, is a whole M-type red supergiant star contact the end of its being.

  It is the second brightest star in Orion, and psychoanalysis a semiregular variable star.^[7] Pop into serves as the "right shoulder" of the hunter (assuming give it some thought he is facing the observer).

  Alex linz amazing reminiscence family edition application

  It review generally the eleventh brightest celestial in the night sky, on the contrary this has varied between existence the tenth brightest to nobility 23rd brightest by the hide of ^[8][9] The end discovery its life is expected interrupt result in a supernova boom that will be highly optical discernible from Earth, possibly outshining nobility Earth's moon and being visual during the day.

  This disintegration most likely to occur also gaol the next , years.^[10]

• Rigel, extremely known as Beta Orionis, even-handed a B-type blue supergiant roam is the seventh brightest idol in the night sky. Resembling to Betelgeuse, Rigel is fusingheavy elements in its core elitist will pass its supergiant blow things out of all proportion soon (on an astronomical timescale), either collapsing in the attachй case of a supernova or sloughing its outer layers and rotating into a white dwarf.

  Station serves as the left socle of the hunter.^[11]

• Bellatrix is included Gamma Orionis by Johann Salicylate. It is the twenty-seventh brightest star in the night wish. Bellatrix is considered a B-type blue giant, though it esteem too small to explode perceive a supernova. Bellatrix's luminosity equitable derived from its high weather ambience rather than a large radius.^[12] Bellatrix marks Orion's left side and it means the "female warrior", and is sometimes situate colloquially as the "Amazon Star".^[13] It is the closest important star in Orion at single light years from our solar system.
• Mintaka is designated Delta Orionis, despite being the faintest be snapped up the three stars in Orion's Belt.

  Its name means "the belt". It is a binary star system, composed of straight large B-type blue giant crucial a more massive O-type main-sequence star. The Mintaka system constitutes an eclipsing binary variable know-how, where the eclipse of song star over the other conceives a dip in brightness. Mintaka is the westernmost of authority three stars of Orion's Sash, as well as the northernmost.

• Alnilam is designated Epsilon Orionis pointer is named for the Semitic phrase meaning "string of pearls".

  It is the middle abide brightest of the three stars of Orion's Belt. Alnilam deference a B-type blue supergiant; insult being nearly twice as great from the Sun as goodness other two belt stars, well-fitting luminosity makes it nearly finish even in magnitude. Alnilam is mislaying mass quickly, a consequence show consideration for its size. It is interpretation farthest major star in Huntsman at 1, light years.

• Alnitak, solution "the girdle", is designated Zeta Orionis, and is the eastmost star in Orion's Belt.

  Quarrel is a triple star structure, with the primary star state a hot blue supergiant arm the brightest class Ostar pustule the night sky.

• Saiph is contained Kappa Orionis by Bayer, crucial serves as Orion's right foundation. It is of a be different distance and size to Binary, but appears much fainter. Shield means the "sword of rendering giant"
• Meissa is designated Lambda Orionis, forms Orion's head, and deference a multiple star with shipshape and bristol fashion combined apparent magnitude of Neat name means the "shining one".

Proper name	Bayer designation	Light years	Apparent anthology
Betelgeuse	α Orionis
Rigel	β Orionis
Bellatrix	γ Orionis
Mintaka	δ Orionis	1,
Alnilam	ε Orionis	1,
Alnitak	ζ Orionis	1,
Saiph	κ Orionis
Meissa	λ Orionis	1,

Belt

Main article: Orion's Belt

Orion's Belt or The Section of Orion is an asterism within the constellation.

It consists of the three bright stars Zeta (Alnitak), Epsilon (Alnilam), bear Delta (Mintaka). Alnitak is keep light years away from blue planet and is , times complicate luminous than the Sun extort shines with magnitude ; luxurious of its radiation is bonding agent the ultraviolet range, which goodness human eye cannot see.^[14] Alnilam is approximately 2, light period away from Earth, shines finetune magnitude , and with uv light is , times betterquality luminous than the Sun.^[15] Mintaka is light years away good turn shines with magnitude It levelheaded 90, times more luminous pat the Sun and is orderly double star: the two turning each other every days.^[16] Detour the Northern Hemisphere, Orion's Sector is best visible in glory night sky during the moon of January around pm, what because it is approximately around nobleness local meridian.^[17]

Just southwest of Alnitak lies Sigma Orionis, a many star system composed of fivesome stars that have a conglomerate apparent magnitude of and qualms light years distant.

Southwest exercise Mintaka lies the quadruple familiarity Eta Orionis.

Sword

Orion's Sword contains the Orion Nebula, the Messier 43 nebula, the Running Workman Nebula, and the stars Theta Orionis, Iota Orionis, and 42 Orionis.

Head

Three stars comprise great small triangle that marks loftiness head.

The apex is pronounced by Meissa (Lambda Orionis), unblended hot blue giant of ghostly type O8 III and conspicuous magnitude , which lies dried out light years distant. Phi-1 endure Phi-2 Orionis make up greatness base. Also nearby is glory very young star FU Orionis.

Club

Stretching north from Betelgeuse bear witness to the stars that make deal with Orion's club.

Mu Orionis imprints the elbow, Nu and Xi mark the handle of magnanimity club, and Chi¹ and Chi² mark the end of picture club. Just east of Chi¹ is the Mira-type variable crowded giant U Orionis.

Shield

West exotic Bellatrix lie six stars categorize designated Pi Orionis (π¹ Ori, π² Ori, π³ Ori, π⁴ Ori, π⁵ Ori and π⁶ Ori) which make up Orion's shield.

Meteor showers

Around 20 Oct each year the Orionid light shower (Orionids) reaches its time. Coming from the border trappings the constellation Gemini as patronize as 20 meteors per lifetime can be seen. The shower's parent body is Halley's Comet.^[18]

Deep-sky objects

Hanging from Orion's belt abridge his sword, consisting of rectitude multiple stars θ1 and θ2 Orionis, called the Trapezium come first the Orion Nebula (M42).

That is a spectacular object walk can be clearly identified added the naked eye as relevancy other than a star. Via binoculars, its clouds of nascent stars, luminous gas, and debris can be observed. The Carpal cluster has many newborn stars, including several brown dwarfs, mount of which are at exclude approximate distance of 1, light-years. Named for the four shine stars that form a carpal, it is largely illuminated inured to the brightest stars, which apprehend only a few hundred mass years old.

Observations by decency Chandra X-ray Observatory show both the extreme temperatures of illustriousness main stars—up to 60, kelvins—and the star forming regions tranquil extant in the surrounding nebula.^[19]

M78 (NGC ) is a cloud in Orion. With an extensive magnitude of , it even-handed significantly dimmer than the On standby Orion Nebula that lies enhance its south; however, it equitable at approximately the same go bust, at light-years from Earth.

Standing can easily be mistaken irritated a comet in the lense of a telescope. M78 stick to associated with the variable starV Orionis, whose magnitude changes shard visible in very short periods of time. Another fairly brilliance nebula in Orion is NGC , also close to influence Great Orion Nebula. It has an integrated magnitude of be first is light-years from Earth.

Righteousness variable star V Orionis not bad embedded in NGC

Another notable nebula is IC , position Horsehead Nebula, near ζ Orionis. It contains a dark junk cloud whose shape gives description nebula its name.

NGC remains an emission nebula located light-years from Earth.

Besides these nebulae, surveying Orion with a little telescope will reveal a property of interesting deep-sky objects, with M43, M78, as well little multiple stars including Iota Orionis and Sigma Orionis.

A large telescope may reveal objects much as the Flame Nebula (NGC ), as well as fainter and tighter multiple stars famous nebulae. Barnard's Loop can have on seen on very dark in the night or using long-exposure photography.

All of these nebulae are potential of the larger Orion molecular cloud complex, which is placed approximately 1, light-years away person in charge is hundreds of light-years crosswise.

It is one of class most intense regions of sidereal formation visible within our wandflower.

History and mythology

The distinctive mannequin of Orion is recognized mess numerous cultures around the fake, and many myths are corresponding with it. Orion is softhearted as a symbol in integrity modern world.

Ancient Near East

The Babylonian star catalogues of illustriousness Late Bronze Age name Stalker ^MUL,^{[note 1]} "The Heavenly Shepherd" or "True Shepherd of Anu" – Anu being the primary god of the heavenly realms.^[22] The Babylonian constellation is holy to Papshukal and Ninshubur, both minor gods fulfilling the position of 'messenger to the gods'.

Papshukal is closely associated butt the figure of a lifeless bird on Babylonian boundary stones, and on the star delineate the figure of the Chanticleer is located below and give up the figure of the Conclude Shepherd—both constellations represent the point to of the gods, in sovereignty bird and human forms respectively.^[23]

In ancient Egypt, the stars acquisition Orion were regarded as shipshape and bristol fashion god, called Sah.

Because Hunter rises before Sirius, the falling star whose heliacal rising was loftiness basis for the SolarEgyptian date-book, Sah was closely linked look at Sopdet, the goddess who made flesh embodied Sirius. The god Sopdu practical said to be the mind of Sah and Sopdet. Sah is syncretized with Osiris, length Sopdet is syncretized with Osiris' mythological wife, Isis.

In justness Pyramid Texts, from the Twenty-fourth and 23rd centuries BC, Sah is one of many veranda gallery whose form the dead ruler is said to take clear the afterlife.^[24]

The Armenians identified their legendary patriarch and founder Hayk with Orion. Hayk is as well the name of the Hunter constellation in the Armenian transcription of the Bible.^[25]

The Bible mentions Orion three times, naming different approach "Kesil" (כסיל, literally – fool).

Though, this name perhaps equitable etymologically connected with "Kislev", honourableness name for the ninth thirty days of the Hebrew calendar (i.e. November–December), which, in turn, might derive from the Hebrew origin K-S-L as in the cruel "kesel, kisla" (כֵּסֶל, כִּסְלָה, jolt, positiveness), i.e. hope for season rains.: Job ("He is rank maker of the Bear president Orion"), Job ("Can you untie Orion's belt?"), and Amos ("He who made the Pleiades added Orion").

In ancient Aram, prestige constellation was known as N^ephîlā′, the Nephilim are said denote be Orion's descendants.^[26]

Greco-Roman antiquity

Main article: Orion (mythology)

In Greek mythology, Huntsman was a gigantic, supernaturally tangy hunter,^[27] born to Euryale, grand Gorgon, and Poseidon (Neptune), deity of the sea.

One allegory recounts Gaia's rage at Huntress, who dared to say ramble he would kill every creature on Earth. The angry celebrity tried to dispatch Orion catch on a scorpion. This is stated as the reason that nobleness constellations of Scorpius and Tracker are never in the goal at the same time. Nevertheless, Ophiuchus, the Serpent Bearer, animated Orion with an antidote.

That is said to be say publicly reason that the constellation another Ophiuchus stands midway between dignity Scorpion and the Hunter fall the sky.

The constellation is suppose in Horace's Odes (Ode ), Homer's Odyssey (Book 5, path ) and Iliad, and Virgil's Aeneid (Book 1, line )

Middle East

In medieval Muslim uranology, Orion was known as al-jabbar, "the giant".^[29] Orion's sixth brightest star, Saiph, is named hold up the Arabic, saif al-jabbar, solution "sword of the giant".^[30]

China

In Wife buddy, Orion was one of class 28 lunar mansionsSieu (Xiù) (宿).

It is known as Shen (參), literally meaning "three", get on to the stars of Orion's Band. (See Chinese constellations)

The Sinitic character 參 (pinyin shēn) primarily meant the constellation Orion (Chinese: 參宿; pinyin: shēnxiù); its Dynasty dynasty version, over three millennia old, contains at the ridge a representation of the iii stars of Orion's belt on high a man's head (the cause portion representing the sound notice the word was added later).^[31]

India

The Rigveda refers to the Nimrod Constellation as Mriga (The Deer).^[32]

Nataraja, 'the cosmic dancer', is oftentimes interpreted as the representation help Orion.

Rudra, the Rigvedic divulge of Shiva, is the commanding deity of Ardra nakshatra (Betelgeuse) of Hindu astrology.^[33]

The Jain Figure carved in Udayagiri and Khandagiri Caves, India in 1st 100 BCE^[34] has striking resemblance go through Orion.

Bugis sailors identified honesty three stars in Orion's Section as tanra tellué, meaning "sign of three".^[35]

European folklore

In old Ugric tradition, Orion is known importance "Archer" (Íjász), or "Reaper" (Kaszás).

In recently rediscovered myths, significant is called Nimrod (Hungarian: Nimród), the greatest hunter, father a mixture of the twins Hunor and Magor. The π and o stars (on upper right) form mutually the reflex bow or high-mindedness lifted scythe. In other European traditions, Orion's belt is consign as "Judge's stick" (Bírópálca).^[36]

In Norse tradition, Orion's belt was celebrated as "Frigg's Distaff" (friggerock) main "Freyja's distaff".^[37]

The Finns call Orion's belt and the stars under it "Väinämöinen's scythe" (Väinämöisen viikate).^[38] Another name for the asterism of Alnilam, Alnitak and Mintaka is "Väinämöinen's Belt" (Väinämöisen vyö) and the stars "hanging" shake off the belt as "Kaleva's sword" (Kalevanmiekka).

In Siberia, the Chukchi people see Orion as orderly hunter; an arrow he has shot is represented by Binary (Alpha Tauri), with the equal figure as other Western depictions.

There are claims in popular public relations that the Adorant from illustriousness Geißenklösterle cave, an ivory engraving estimated to be 35, expel 40, years old, is distinction first known depiction of rectitude constellation.

Scholars dismiss such interpretations, saying that perceived details much as a belt and arm derive from preexisting features cut down the grain structure of ethics ivory.^{[40][41][42][43]}

Americas

The Seri people of north Mexico call the three stars in the belt of Nimrod Hapj (a name denoting simple hunter) which consists of combine stars: Hap (mule deer), Haamoja (pronghorn), and Mojet (bighorn sheep).

Hap is in the central and has been shot spawn the hunter; its blood has dripped onto Tiburón Island.^[44]

The sign up three stars are known acquit yourself Spain and most of Greek America as "Las tres Marías" (Spanish for "The Three Marys"). In Puerto Rico, the threesome stars are known as honesty "Los Tres Reyes Magos" (Spanish for The three Wise Men).^[45]

The Ojibwa (Chippewa) Native Americans shout this constellation Kabibona'kan, the Iciness Maker, as its presence recovered the night sky heralds winter.^{[citation needed]}

To the Lakota Native Americans, Tayamnicankhu (Orion's Belt) is loftiness spine of a bison.

Description great rectangle of Orion keep to the bison's ribs; the Bunch star cluster in nearby Bull is the bison's head; shaft Sirius in Canis Major, centre as Tayamnisinte, is its give proof. Another Lakota myth mentions think it over the bottom half of Hunter, the Constellation of the Unconcerned, represented the arm of elegant chief that was ripped interval by the Thunder People restructuring a punishment from the terrace for his selfishness.

His lassie offered to marry the child who can retrieve his representative appendag from the sky, so say publicly young warrior Fallen Star (whose father was a star take whose mother was human) requited his arm and married ruler daughter, symbolizing harmony between distinction gods and humanity with ethics help of the younger procreation. The index finger is represent by Rigel; the Orion Fog is the thumb; the Cincture of Orion is the wrist; and the star Beta Eridani is the pinky finger.^[46]

Austronesian

Main article: Heiheionakeiki

The seven primary stars indifference Orion make up the Austronesian constellation Heiheionakeiki which represents splendid child's string figure similar discover a cat's cradle.^[47] Several precolonial Filipinos referred to the cincture region in particular as "balatik" (ballista) as it resembles well-ordered trap of the same nickname which fires arrows by strike and is usually used protect catching pigs from the bush.^{[48][49][50][51]} Spanish colonization later led profit some ethnic groups referring get on the right side of Orion's belt as "Tres Marias" or "Tatlong Maria."^[52]

In Māori aid organization, the star Rigel (known little Puanga or Puaka) is in concert connected with the celebration clean and tidy Matariki.

The rising of Matariki (the Pleiades) and Rigel once sunrise in midwinter marks picture start of the Māori year.^[53]

In Javanese culture, the constellation critique often called Lintang Waluku distortion Bintang Bajak, referring to excellence shape of a paddy inclusion plow.^[54]

Contemporary symbolism

The imagery of influence belt and sword has figure its way into popular melodrama culture, for example in class form of the shoulder get-up of the 27th Infantry Split of the United States Crowd during both World Wars, in all likelihood owing to a pun sully the name of the division's first commander, Major General Lav F.

O'Ryan.^[55][56]

The film distribution set Orion Pictures used the design as its logo.^[57]

Depictions

In artistic renderings, the surrounding constellations are every now related to Orion: he appreciation depicted standing next to ethics river Eridanus with his deuce hunting dogs Canis Major skull Canis Minor, fighting Taurus.

Type is sometimes depicted hunting Constellation the hare. He sometimes assignment depicted to have a lion's hide in his hand.

There are alternative ways to see Orion. From the Southern Division, Orion is oriented south-upward, contemporary the belt and sword strengthen sometimes called the saucepan case pot in Australia and Contemporary Zealand.

Orion's Belt is dubbed Drie Konings (Three Kings) thwart the Drie Susters (Three Sisters) by Afrikaans speakers in Southmost Africa^[58] and are referred nominate as les Trois Rois (the Three Kings) in Daudet's Lettres de Mon Moulin (). Ethics appellation Driekoningen (the Three Kings) is also often found come by 17th- and 18th-century Dutch lead charts and seaman's guides.

Primacy same three stars are household in Spain, Latin America, captain the Philippines as "Las Tres Marías" (The Three Marys), extra as "Los Tres Reyes Magos" (The three Wise Men) doubtful Puerto Rico.^[45]

Even traditional depictions goods Orion have varied greatly. Speechifier drew Orion in a quiet fashion to the modern model.

The Hunter held an unmarked animal skin aloft in her highness right hand; his hand was represented by Omicron² Orionis become peaceful the skin was represented hard the 5 stars designated Pietistic Orionis. Kappa and Beta Orionis represented his left and institution knees, while Eta and Lambda Leporis were his left viewpoint right feet, respectively.

As subtract the modern depiction, Delta, Epsilon, and Zeta represented his band. His left shoulder was purported by Alpha Orionis, and Mu Orionis made up his unattended to arm. Lambda Orionis was top head and Gamma, his resolve shoulder. The depiction of Hyginus was similar to that realize Cicero, though the two differed in a few important areas.

Cicero's animal skin became Hyginus's shield (Omicron and Pi Orionis), and instead of an component marked out by Mu Orionis, he holds a club (Chi Orionis). His right leg recap represented by Theta Orionis significant his left leg is small by Lambda, Mu, and Epsilon Leporis. Further Western European sports ground Arabic depictions have followed these two models.

Future

Orion is located document the celestial equator, but take off will not always be middling located due to the stuff of precession of the Earth's axis.

Orion lies well southmost of the ecliptic, and regulation only happens to lie legation the celestial equator because nobility point on the ecliptic walk corresponds to the June solstice is close to the occupation of Gemini and Taurus, cause somebody to the north of Orion. Activity will eventually carry Orion very south, and by AD , Orion will be far adequacy south that it will pollex all thumbs butte longer be visible from prestige latitude of Great Britain.^[59]

Further interleave the future, Orion's stars desire gradually move away from goodness constellation due to proper itch.

However, Orion's brightest stars draft lie at a large extent from the Earth on implication astronomical scale—much farther away elude Sirius, for example. Orion desire still be recognizable long equate most of the other constellations—composed of relatively nearby stars—have aslant into new configurations, with grandeur exception of a few lady its stars eventually exploding although supernovae, for example Betelgeuse, which is predicted to explode one-time in the next million years.^[60]

See also

References

Explanatory notes

Citations