Using Orion as a Guide to the Constellations

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The following information will help you to locate certain constellations. In this part of the lesson you will be using Orion as a guide to find constellations in the southern sections of the sky. These constellations are considered the winter constellations. The winter constellations contain some of the brightest stars we see. Sirius is the brightest star in the night sky followed by Capella (6th brightest), Rigel (7th), Procyon (8th), Betelgeuse (12th), Aldebaran (13th), Pollux (17th), and Bellatrix (25th). This is truly a great time of the year to observe the night sky.

How to find Orion???

The constellation Orion dominates the southern sky during the winter months. It is relatively easy to spot. Simply look for three condensed stars that form a straight line. This is the "Belt of Orion" and it marks the center of the constellation. Above the "Belt of Orion" are two bright stars, Betelgeuse and Bellatrix. These stars form the shoulders of the Great Hunter. Another very bright star can be seen below the belt, Rigel. Rigel is the brightest star in Orion. Once you have found these four things, check you planetarium notes to make sure that you are looking at the constellation Orion. After you have found Orion, you are ready to use it as a guide to the rest of the winter constellations.

About Orion

Orion was known as the "Great Hunter" by the ancient Greeks. An easy feature to find in Orion is his belt, three stars that form a straight line. The stars are Alnitak, Alnilam, and Mintaka. Above the "Belt of Orion" are his two shoulder stars, Betelgeuse and Bellatrix. Betelgeuse is a red super giant star that will one day go supernova. Marking the head of the giant hunter is Meissa. The brightest star in Orion is Rigel. Rigel is a blue giant star that forms the knee of the hunter. Orion is at the center of the winter constellation so it makes a great tour guide to the other constellations.

Finding Sirius and Canis Minor

To find the star Sirius and the constellation Canis Minor, locate the "Belt of Orion." Connect a line through the three stars towards the horizon. This line will point to the bright star Sirius. Sirius is the brightest star in the night sky. It is one of our closest neighbors at 8.6 light years away. This makes Sirius the ninth closest star to Earth. Sirius is known as the "Dog Star" in the constellation of Canis Major, the "Big Dog." This star is so bright, it has been responsible for many false UFO sightings.

Finding Aldebaran and Taurus

To find the star Aldebaran and the constellation Taurus, locate the "Belt of Orion." Connect a line through the three stars away from the horizon. This line will point you to a bright star, Aldebaran. Aldebaran has an orange color. This red giant star forms the "Bull's Eye" of the constellation Taurus. This star is the thirteenth brightest star we see at night and is thirty-six (36) times the diameter of our Sun.

Finding Canis Minor

To find the constellation Canis Minor, locate the two brightest stars at the top of Orion, Betelgeuse and Bellatrix. Connect a line from Bellatrix through Betelgeuse. Continuing this line will lead you to Canis Minor. Canis Minor is a small, two star constellation. Its brightest star is Procyon. Procyon is the eighth brightest star in the night sky. It is only 11.1 light years away from Earth, twenty-first closest to us.

Finding Castor and Gemini

To find the star Castor and the constellation Gemini, locate the "Belt of Orion" and Betelgeuse. Connect a line from the farthest right star in the "Belt of Orion" through Betelgeuse. Continue up this line and it will lead you to the bright star, Castor. Castor forms on of the two heads of the "twins," Gemini. Castor is a triple binary star, six stars that revolve around one point. From Earth, they appear to be one star. The brightest star in Gemini is Pollux. Pollux forms the other head of the "twins." Pollux is the seventeenth brightest star in the night sky.


source: http://www.coldwater.k12.mi.us/lms/p...ori-guide.html

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