Constellation Project
Bill Connolly
What is a Constellation?
A Group of stars forming a recognizable pattern, mostly named after what it appears to look like. Constellations where used for directions and farmers use constellations to know when to plant and harvest crops.
Orion Constellation
Orions constellation is in the northern sky, it is named after Orion (Greek Mythology) who was a hunter holding his kill or a shield depending how you look at it. The constellation has 2 of the 10 brightest stars in the night sky. Has the most prominent asterism known as the Orion's belt.
Contined...
Orion Constellation is its own constellation family. The Babylonians were the first ones to document the constellation as "the great shepherd" but no single astronomer found the constellation.
The myth: Orion claimed to be the greatest hunter in the world, Much to the dismay of Hera so she had a scorpion kill him and Zeus put Orion into the sky as a consolation.
There are 7 main stars in the orion constellation the main stars are Betelgeuse, Saiph, Bellatrix, Rigel, Alnitak, Alnilam and Mintaka. Orion can best be seen from November to February from latitudes 85 and -75.
Interesting Facts
- Orion is one of the most recognizable Constellations that can be seen.
- Contains two of the brightest stars in the night sky.
- The stars forming the constellation are actually slowly moving apart.