Orion star chart6/20/2023 ![]() ![]() As you turn your head from side to side, you will be looking in the compass direction indicated by those numbers. The numbers along the white “Your Horizon” curve at the bottom of the map are compass points, shown on degrees. When getting your bearings under the stars, it’s often easiest to spot an asterism and use it as a guide to finding the parent constellation. These are distinctive star patterns that lie within constellations. The items labeled in green on the sky map are known as asterisms. If you are substantially south of these areas, everything on our map will appear higher in your sky. If you are located substantially north of these areas, objects on our map will appear lower in your sky, and some objects near the horizon will not be visible at all. states, southern Canada, central and southern Europe, central Asia, and Japan. The map is accurate for any location at a so-called “mid northern” latitude. For example, if the map legend says “Looking Southeast,” you should face southeast when using the map. The legend on the map always tells you which direction you should facing, based on midnight viewing. Instead, the map focuses on a particular region of the sky each month where something interesting is happening. Our monthly sky map does not show the entire sky which would be almost impossible. Sky map produced using Chris Marriott’s Skymap Pro Note: How to Read the Sky Map It is the closest star-forming region to Earth, a mere 1,300 light-years away! February Sky MapĬlick here or on map below to enlarge ( PDF). With binoculars, the Great Nebula looks like a small, glowing cloud. The cloud glows because many young stars are still embedded within it. This nebula is a stellar nursery, where new stars are being born at this very minute. The middle “star” in the sword isn’t a star at all, but is instead a giant cloud of glowing gas and dust known as the Orion Nebula or the Great Nebula in Orion. These are said to represent Orion’s sword. Orion’s other arm extends to the right of Bellatrix and holds a shield to fend off the Hunter’s enemies.įinally, you may notice a group of three stars hanging downward below the Belt. The arm is often depicted as holding a weapon of some sort, often a club. If you are viewing Orion from a dark location, you’ll be able to see his arm rising upward from Betelgeuse. Although we call it the Belt, this asterism (unofficial star pattern) has many names in various cultures and religions, including the “yardstick,” the “wand,” and the “Three Kings” (after the Christmas story). These stars span the midsection of the Hunter, forming a straight bright line. The three stars of Orion’s Belt are a prominent feature of Orion. This is another supergiant star, 22 times the mass of our Sun. Bellatrix (the star) is even bluer than Rigel, but because Bellatrix is dimmer, its color is less apparent except on especially clear, dark nights.Ĭompleting the main outline of Orion is Saiph, marking the Hunter’s right knee. On Orion’s left shoulder lies the very blue star Bellatrix, meaning “female warrior.” It’s no coincidence that the Bellatrix Lestrange character in the Harry Potter books is extremely warlike (and not in a good way!). Where Betelgeuse really excels, however, is in its sheer size-as much as 1,000 times larger than our Sun! In general, the colors of stars are very subtle, but the colors of these two bright stars are easy to see.īetelgeuse and Rigel are both classified as “supergiant” stars, having about 8 and 21 times the mass, respectively, of our Sun. At a glance, it is easy to see that Betelgeuse is a yellowish orange star while Rigel is a dazzling blue-white. Both are among the sky’s 10 brightest stars, and they have distinctly different colors. The brightest of these are Betelgeuse on his right shoulder and Rigel on his left knee. The main figure of Orion consists of seven bright stars. This month’s Sky Map includes a close-up view of Orion on the right-hand side of the map. When you look to the south in February, your view is dominated by Orion, standing tall and proud. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |