Orion constellation: how to locate and curiosities –

A Orion constellation It is one of the best-known constellations of all the stellar clusters ever catalogued. Due to its size, location and because it houses some of the brightest stars from all over the sky, it arouses curiosity and is a constant source of study.

In fact, there is a lot to say about the Orion constellation: both astronomical facts and mysteries and stories of ancient civilizations!

Orion Constellation – How to Find It

Of the 88 modern constellations catalogued, the Orion constellation It ranks 26th in terms of size, and is located on the celestial equator.

Due to these two factors, it is easily seen in practically all regions of the Earth: both in the southern and northern hemispheres. However, here in Brazil it is more easily seen in December and January, that is: in the summer months.

Read too:
The 14 best places to stargaze in Brazil

Firstly, if you want to identify it in the night sky, look for the Orion’s Belt: also popularly known by Brazilians as 3 Marias. It got easier, right?

From these stars, the constellation becomes much easier to find.

On the other hand, if you still have difficulty, we have an article on how to locate stars in the sky and on a star map.

Including application tips for seeing stars in a simpler and more practical way! ?

Orion Constellation – Stars

The Orion Constellation is home to 81 stars in total, two of which are among the brightest stars in the entire sky: Rigel and Betelgeuse.

Rigel (also known as Beta Orionis, 19 Orionis) is the brightest star in the constellation and the sixth brightest star in the sky.

Its apparent magnitude (brightness observed by an observer here on Earth) is 0.18 and it is a blue supergiant that has 85,000 times the luminosity of the Sun.

Read too:
12 interesting facts and everything you need to know about the stars

Betelgeuse is the second brightest star in the Orion Constellation and the eighth brightest star in the sky.

It is a red supergiant with an apparent magnitude of 0.42, about 10 million years old and about 200 light years away from us.

In fact, belonging to the red giant classification means the last phase of the star. Therefore, it may be that soon (or even in a few thousand years) this star will explode, generating a glow so intense that it would be possible to observe it even during the day.

Orion asterisms

In other words, asterism means a set of stars that, aligned, form a recognizable object or pattern.

Orion’s Belt

Previously, we talked about the 3 Marys, which are an asterism of Orion.

There are three bright stars (Mintaka, Alnilam and Alnitak), which form a straight line – which can also be interpreted as Orion’s Belt.

Winter Triangle

Likewise, Betelgeuse also forms the Winter Triangle with the stars Sirius (from the Canis Major constellation) and Procyon (from the Canis Minor constellation), an asterism easily identifiable in this season.

Orion Nebula

Nebulae are interstellar clouds of dust, hydrogen, helium and other ionized gases, usually the result of a supernova, in other words: the product of a star explosion.

A Orion Nebula It is one of the brightest in the sky and can be seen without binoculars on a clear day without interference from light pollution.

It has a magnitude of 4.0 and is 1,344 light years away from Earth.

To the naked eye, the Orion Nebula appears to be the central “star” of the constellation, south of Orion’s Belt – or as some prefer to say, in the sword that Orion carries with him.

Myths about constellations – Orion

There are several versions about Orion in Greek mythologybut one of them says that he was an extremely beautiful hunter, son of the god Poseidon and Euryale (daughter of Minos, the king of Crete).

Orion would have fallen in love with the Pleiades (the Seven Sisters), daughters of Atlas and Pleione (daughter of the Ocean).

To avoid the hunter’s persecution of them, Zeus would have placed them all in the sky, forming the constellation Orion.

The Pleiades star cluster can be seen in the constellation Taurus, with Orion alongside, chasing them.

Another famous version is about the death of Orion: a scorpion was sent by the goddess Artemis to kill him, and whenever the Scorpio constellation appears in the sky, Orion moves away (in an eternal escape from whoever stung him).

If you want to know more about this myth and others zodiac constellations? See our article Constellations of signs and Greek Mythology.

Mystery 3 pyramids – Constellation of Orion

A Orion constellationas it is easily identified in the sky, it has allowed many people and navigators to orient themselves through it and the constellations that surround it.

Since then, it has become a reference for people announcing the beginning of summer (in the southern hemisphere) and the best time for harvesting, for example.

However, some curious facts were noticed over time. Supposedly, the pyramids of Giza, in Egypt, are aligned exactly according to the arrangement of the stars in Orion’s Belt.

Likewise, the 3 pyramids of the ancient city of Teotihuacan, Mexico, also bear the same resemblance to the stars of the constellation.

Both the pyramid of the Moon, the Sun and Quetzalcóatl would be arranged in the same proportion and alignment as the 3 Marias.

Just a coincidence?

Gift – Stars

Since you are interested in the stars, constellations and the universe… how about a gift that has everything to do with this theme?

We make pictures with star maps that show exactly what the sky was like on a certain date, place and time!

This way, you will be able to see with quality and perfection the eternal sky on a special day, which can be from both the past and the future.

Read too:
Differentiated gift: why create your star map with us

So it’s a great gift for boyfriend, gift for friend or even a gift for yourself!

Still, you can place a special phrase that reflects everything that this special moment represents.

If you want ideas, we have an article with dozens of sentences and thoughts separated by themes for you to be inspired:

Create your star map right now, here.

Don’t let the shine go out: do it with the Constellation of Orion and have a special place in a sky that is yours alone. ?