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January Constellation: Orion (The Hunter)

In one greek myth, Orion was a hunter who boasted that he was the greatest and could kill any animal alive. This offended the gods, who sent a scorpion (Scorpius) to kill him. Orion and Scorpius were then placed in the sky, but on opposite sides. One rises as the other one sets.


Look for it high in the northeast.
 
Orion is wearing a diamond belt that is easily seen. Nowhere else in the sky are there three bright stars so close together. Below this belt is his sword. The middle of the sword is a fuzzy nebula. It is called the Orion Nebula or M42. Look at it with binoculars. There are many hot new stars that are just emerging from the dust and gases that made them.

Betelgeuse is a red supergiant star and Rigel is a blue supergiant. Blue stars are hotter than red stars. See if your eyes can detect the difference in their colours.
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