The Orion Constellation
The Orion constellation is well known to most stargazers. It is composed of bright stars such as Betelgeuse, Bellatrix, Rigel, Saiph, Alnitak, Alnilam, Mintaka, Meissa, Theta1 and Theta 2 Orionis, the Trapezium cluster, Orion nebula, and Hatsya.
Rigel, the left foot of Orion, is the brightest star in this constellation. It is 773 light years away, and has a mass of 17 solar masses. Betelgeuse, the right shoulder of Orion, is the second brightest in the constellation, and is 600 light years away from our solar system. Bellatrix is the left shoulder of Orion, and is 240 light years away. Saiph, the right foot of Orion is720 light years away.
Its three bright stars, commonly known as the “Belt of Orion”, are visible to the naked eyes. These are the Alnitak, Alnilam, and Mintaka.These stars are also known as “the Three Kings”, or “The Three Sisters”. Alnitak is the easternmost star in the belt. It is 800 light years away. Alnilam is the center of the belt. It is 1300 light years away. Mintaka is the westernmost star in the belt, and is 900 light years away.
Below the belt is the “Sword of Orion”. Visible to the naked eyes are the stars Theta 1 and Theta 2 Orionis, the Trapezium cluster, the Orion nebula, and Hatsya. The brightest star in the sword visible to the nake eye, though 1300 light years away is Hatsya, which is located at the tip of the sword.
The Trapezium cluster is a group of very bright stars 1600 light years away. It was originally composed of stars A, B, C, and D. But later discoveries increased the number to eight. Stars A, C, and D were discovered by Galileo in February 4, 1617, and the fourth component, the star B was discovered later. The rest were discovered in 1888. Star C is the brightest in the Trapezium.
The Orion Nebula is the hazy area visible to the naked eye. It is 1270 light years away, 20 light years in diameter, and 24 light years across. It is composed of more than 2,ooo stars.
At the tip of the sword, below the Orion Nebula is Hatsya. It is the brightest among the sword stars though 1300 light years away.
Just below Alnitak is the Horsehead Nebula, and the Flame Nebula adjacent to it. The Horsehead Nebula and the Burning Bush or Flaming Tree Nebula are both 1500 light years away.
Constellation Orion is very significant to most people not only because of its being the most beautiful constellation in the night sky that is visible to the naked eye, but because of the many myths and legends about it. It is believed not only by Christians, but by atheist as well that Orion is the “Gateway to Heaven”. It is mentioned three times in the Bible, and most Seventh-day Adventists believe that the mighty voice of God the Father will come from Orion to proclaim the day and hour of the much-awaited second coming coming of his Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. From an “open space” in Orion, the New Jerusalem will pass through and descend to this planet Earth, after the millennial reign of the saints in heaven.