Orion Constellation: Stars, Interesting Facts, Map, Meaning

Orion constellation is one of the most popular and recognizable star constellations on the night sky that you can observe with a telescope, binoculars, and even with the naked eye. It's located on the celestial equator, and it's visible throughout the whole Earth (in some areas only in some seasons, e.g. mostly in Winter and early Spring in the Northern Hemisphere). It's the home of a few famous astrophotography targets, like Orion, Flame, Horsehead, Running Man, and Witch Head Nebulae. In this article, you will learn how to find this constellation in the night sky, what are the brightest stars within it, what is the constellation means, and some pure facts and astrophotography tips.

Jump to:

• Orion Constellation Facts
• How to Find it on the Night Sky
• Orion Constellation Map
• The Brightest Stars in Orion Constellation (in Order From the Brightest)
• Orion Name Meaning in Greek Mythology
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Orion Constellation Facts

Constellation	Orion
Location	Northern sky
Quadrant	NQ1
Right ascension (RA)	5h
Declination (DEC)	+5°
Best months to see (Northern hemisphere)	November - February
Best months to see (Southern Hemisphere)	June - August
Messier objects count	3
Interesting astrophotography deep-sky targets	Orion Nebula, Running Man Nebula, Horsehead Nebula, Flame Nebula, Witch Head Nebula, M78, Lambda Orionis, NGC 1788
Bordering constellations	Eridanus, Gemini, Lepus, Monoceros, Taurus
Symbolism	Orion, the Hunter
Brightest star	Rigel (β Ori/Beta Orionis)

How to Find it on the Night Sky

In the Northern Hemisphere, the Orion constellation shines on the night sky most during Winter. Look at the South around midnight in December and in the evening in February (in January somewhere in between). The constellation is located on the equator, so it's pretty low on the sky, just above the horizon.

Orion Constellation Map

Orion's Belt

When you first look at the Orion constellation, the first-star pattern you will notice will be the Orion's Belt. It consists of three aligned stars - Alnitak (Zeta), Alnilam (Epsilon), and Mintaka (Delta). Locating Orion's Belt is the easiest way to learn how to find the whole constellation in the night sky. If you take a closer look, Orion's Belt forms a diamond-like shape with Betelgeuse and Rigel stars. I always saw it this way when I was a child.

	Alnitak	Alnilam	Mintaka
Type of star	Triple star system	Blue supergiant	Multiple star system
Mass	33  M☉	40 M☉	24 M☉
Radius	20  R☉	32 R☉	17 R☉
Distance from Earth	1,260 ly	2,000 ly	1,200 ly

Orion's Sword

Below the Orion's Belt, there is another 3-stars-line pattern, the so-called Orion's Sword (and sometimes scabbard). It comprises three stars - 42 Orionis, Theta Orionis, and Iota Orionis - and M42, the Orion Nebula (and Running Man Nebula above).

Orion Nebula (M42/Messier 42)

Orion Nebula is one of the brightest nebulae on the night sky and can be easily seen with the naked eye (in a reasonably-dark place), and astronomy binoculars help even more to see it. It's one of the (if not the one) most often photographed objects in the astrophotography community due to its huge brightness. Besides that, it's just beautiful.

The Brightest Stars in Orion Constellation (in Order From the Brightest)

	Star	Bayer designation	Apparent magnitude
1.	Rigel	β/Beta Orionis	0.18
2.	Betelgeuse	α/Alpha Orionis	0.42
3.	Bellatrix	γ/Gamma Orionis	1.64
4.	Alnilam	ε/Epsilon Orionis	1.69
5.	Alnitak	ζ/Zeta Orionis	1.88
6.	Saiph	κ/Kappa Orionis	2.07
7.	Mintaka	δ/Delta Orionis	2.20
8.	Meissa	λ/Lambda Orionis	3.47

Orion Name Meaning in Greek Mythology

In Greek mythology, Orion was a Beockian giant, a hunter of great strength and beauty, son of Poseidon and Euryale (one of the three Gorgon sisters), or Hyrieus of Boeotia. As Polyphemus's brother, he was characterized by his enormous height (he could walk on the ocean floor with his head above the waves; according to another message, he could walk on the sea) and violent character.

Orion persecuted the nymphs Pleiades (heralds of good weather) and Hyades (heralds of bad weather) until they asked Zeus to turn them into animals. In fulfilling their wish, Zeus turned them into pigeons and later into a cluster of stars in the sky, today called the Pleiades.

After Orion's death, he was moved by the gods between the stars (the constellation of Orion).

In the play, Orion is depicted as a hunter with a shield in one hand, a machete in the other, and a sword at his waist. He defends himself against the charging Bull in the sky. The myth of Orion has inspired artists for centuries; it has become the subject of poetic and musical works and is also frequent in fine arts.