Constellation of Orion, which is composed of extremely bright stars that can be seen and easily found all over the world, has always been curious with this structure throughout history and was named after being inspired by mythologies. Let’s take a closer look at interesting information about the Orion constellation.
When you look at the night sky, you see countless stars. Among them are some that always seem brighter. Here are these extremely bright stars, which can be seen and easily found from all over the world, It forms the Orion Constellation. Orion Constellation, It has always been a remarkable celestial body, with stars of visible size much brighter than other stars.
Like many celestial bodies Orion Constellation It takes its name from Greek mythology. The constellation, named after Orion the Orion, is therefore also known as the Orion constellation in our language. There are some basic and named stars that make up the shape of the constellation. These have made the Constellation Orion worthy of the hunter name. Bride Interesting information about the Orion Constellation Let’s take a closer look.
What is the Orion Constellation and where is it?
Orion constellation; located in the region called the celestial equator, can be seen from time to time from all over the world, it is therefore a constellation of extremely bright stars that are easily found. It has attracted the attention of people throughout history because it is so clearly visible.
At 594 square degrees, the Constellation Orion is the 26th constellation in size and one of 15 constellations on the celestial equator. It is located at latitudes between +85° and -75° in the first quarter of the northern hemisphere. If you want to see the Orion Constellation from Turkey, you should look at the horizon between southeast and southwest.
Notable stars in the Orion Constellation:
- Rigel
- betelgeuse
- Bellatrix
- Orion’s Belt
- saiph
- Hatysa
- Meissa
Rigel
Seen as the hunter’s left foot, the star Rigel is the sixth brightest star in the sky with an apparent magnitude of 0.18. First measured in 1831, Rigel is surrounded by a gas shell. This star, a blue supergiant about 10 million years old, is 772.51 light-years away.
betelgeuse
The second brightest star in the Orion Constellation and the eighth brightest star in the sky, Betelgeuse is seen as the hunter’s right shoulder. Betelgeuse, brighter than 100 thousand Suns, It is 643 light years away. First recorded in 1836 in Outlines of Astronomy by Sir John Herschel, this star is about 10 million years old.
Bellatrix
Seen as the hunter’s left shoulder, Bellatrix is the third brightest in the Constellation of Orion. It is the 27th brightest star in the sky. Described as a hot, bright blue-white giant star, Bellatrix emits 6,400 times more light than the Sun.
Orion’s Belt
Orion’s Belt; It consists of three crossed stars called Mintaka, Alnilam, and Alnitak. as it resembles a hunter’s belt gets its name from here. The stars found in Orion’s Belt are described as bright bluish stars that run from east to west and lie about 1,500 light-years away.
saiph
Seen as the hunter’s right foot, Saiph lies southeast of the central quadrangle of the Constellation Orion. With an apparent magnitude of 2.06, It is the sixth brightest star in the constellation. Located 720 light-years away, Saiph is a blue supergiant.
Hatysa
Hatysa is the brightest star on the hunter’s sword and is therefore seen as the tip of the sword. It has a 29-day orbit It is a massive quadruple star system. Hatysa, with an apparent magnitude of 2.77, is 1,300 light-years away.
Meissa
Meissa, a blue giant 1,100 light-years away, has an apparent magnitude of 3.39. A double star with a companion next to it. Meissa’s pair is a warm blue-white dwarf with an apparent magnitude of 5.61.
Orion Constellation and mythology:
As for the hunter Orion, after whom the Orion Constellation is named, he was the most handsome of men in Greek mythology. He was the son of Poseidon, the god of the sea, and Euryale, the daughter of King Minos of Crete. In Homer’s Odyssey, it is mentioned that he was extremely tall and had an unbreakable bronze stick.
The reason why the constellation is named is hidden in a legend. Legend has it that the hunters Orion, Atlas and Pleion He falls in love with his seven daughters and starts chasing them. When Zeus saw this situation, he lifted them to the sky and the Orion Constellation we know today was formed. They say that if you look carefully you can still see the hunter chasing someone.
Although this is the original story of how the constellation Orion was named after the hunter Orion, it It can even be seen in the Epic of Gilgamesh. This is the reason why constellations with names such as Taurus, Gemini, Eranus River, Rabbit are adjacent to the Orion Constellation.
Home to the brightest stars in the sky We talked about some important information you need to know about the Orion Constellation. and we told his story in mythology. Undoubtedly, mythologies have stories that will shape the objects we see in the sky as they shape our culture.