Astrophysics (Index)About

Orion

(well-known constellation in the northern hemisphere)

Orion is a well-known, conspicuous constellation visible from both hemispheres (spanning the equator) named for the hunter from ancient Greek mythology, Orion. It includes a number of prominent stars:

NameTypeRadiusApparent MagnitudeDistance
BetelgeuseM-type star supergiant764 Rsun+0.50548 ly
RigelB-type star blue supergiant77 Rsun+0.13863 ly
BellatrixB2 III5.75 Rsun+1.64250 ly
SaiphB0.522 Rsun+2.09650 ly
Eta Orionismultiple star including a B16 Rsun+3.421000 ly
MintakaO-type star bright giant16.5 Rsun+2.231200 ly
AlnilamB-type blue supergiant42 Rsun+1.692000 ly
Anlitaktriple star including an O-type blue supergiant20 Rsun+1.771260 ly

The latter three sit in a distinct row imagined as the hunter's belt, an asterism making the constellation evident. One of Orion's other "stars" is actually Orion Nebula, which appears to be the middle star of a line of three imagined to be Orion's sword, descending from the belt. The nebula hosts some of the nearest star-forming regions which include many objects of high interest to astrophysics.


(constellation)
Further reading:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orion_(constellation)
https://www.iau.org/public/themes/constellations/#ori
https://hubblesite.org/contents/media/images/2006/01/1836-Image.html?news=true
https://www.britannica.com/place/Orion-constellation
https://universe.nasa.gov/news/147/discovering-the-universe-through-the-constellation-orion/
Coordinates:Orion
05+05

Referenced by pages:
asterism
Barnard's Loop
Bayer designation
Betelgeuse
constellation
declination (dec)
dense core
Herschel Orion Protostar Survey (HOPS)
Nessie
Orion Disks
Orion Molecular Cloud Complex
Orion Nebula (M42)
Orion Nebula Cluster (ONC)
Rigel
right ascension (RA)
spiral arm
Trapezium Cluster
TXS 0506+056
variable star

Index