Orion’s Belt is one of the most recognizable asterisms in the night sky, forming part of the larger constellation Orion, the Hunter. It consists of three bright stars that appear to be aligned in a nearly straight line
From east to west (in the northern hemisphere), they are Alnitak, Alnilam and Mintaka (and the names are Arabic in origin.
Separately, these three supergiant stars are several times more massive than the sun, and thousands or tens of thousands of times brighter.
Alnitak (Zeta Orionis): The easternmost star, a blue supergiant located about 1,260 light-years from Earth. The name comes from the Arabic word an-niṭāq, meaning “girdle.” It was historically also spelled Al Nitak or Alnitah.
Alnilam (Epsilon Orionis): The middle star, a massive blue supergiant approximately 2,000 light-years away. The name Alnilam is derived from the Arabic al-niẓām, meaning “the string (of pearls).” It was historically also spelled Alnihan and Alnitam. The name may be related to the word nilam, meaning “sapphire
Mintaka (Delta Orionis): The westernmost star, a binary star system roughly 1,200 light-years away. The name Mintaka is derived from the Arabic manṭaqa, meaning “belt.”
Two of the stars in Orion’s Belt, Mintaka and Alnitak, are actually star systems, meaning they consist of multiple stars located close to one another. From our perspective, however, they appear as a single bright light. Mintaka consists of five stars arranged in a complex system, and Alnitak includes three stars.
If you follow the line formed by Orion’s Belt, it points upward to Aldebaran (the bright red eye of Taurus, the Bull) and points downward to the bright star Sirius (the brightest star in the night sky, in the constellation Canis Major).
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The Horsehead Nebula (IC434) – The nebula’s name comes from its distinctive shape, which resembles a horse’s head protruding from a swirling cloud of gas and dust. The Horsehead Nebula is part of the Orion Molecular Cloud Complex, a massive region of active star formation that also includes the famous Orion Nebula (not shown).
The Flame Nebula (NGC 2024) – The Flame Nebula (NGC 2024) is a stunning celestial feature located near the bright star Alnitak. The Flame Nebula glows with a fiery red-orange color due to ionized hydrogen gas, which gives the impression of “flames.” and the intricate dark lanes of dust running through the nebula, creating a striking contrast and adding to its dramatic appearance.
Mythology
Because of its prominence, cultures all around the world have given special significance to Orion.
Indian
Ancient Indians saw the figure as a king who was shot by an arrow, with the stars in Orion’s Belt representing the arrow.
Mayans
The Maya of Mesoamerica envisioned the lower portion of Orion, his belt and feet (the stars Saiph and Rigel), as being the hearthstones of creation, similar to the triangular three-stone hearth that is at the center of all traditional Maya homes. The Orion nebula, lying at the center of the triangle, is interpreted by the Maya as the cosmic fire of creation surrounded by smoke.
Ancient Egyptian
In ancient Egyptian mythology, the stars in Orion’s Belt represented the resting place of the soul of Osiris, the Egyptian god of the deceased. The three stars were associated with the pyramids of Giza, which are thought to be aligned with the Belt.
Māori
The Māori people of New Zealand refer to the belt as Tautoru (literally “string of three”), and it is often seen as the stern of the constellation Te Waka o Rangi (the canoe of Rangi), which extends to its prow at Matariki (The Pleiades). The rising of Matariki in the dawn sky marks the Māori New Year in late May or early June
Christian
The stars have been called the Three Kings that visited the Christ child shortly after he was born in Bethlehem. The three stars of the belt are also sometimes known in Portugal and South America as Las Tres Marías in Spanish, and as “As Três Marias” in Portuguese. This is reference to Mary (mother of Jesus), Mary Magdalene and Mary of Clopas.
Main Image Copyright (Marty McCormack)