Orion

Orion, the Hunter, is one of the most recognizable constellations in the night sky. Straddling the celestial equator, it is visible from nearly everywhere on Earth. Its prominent belt of three stars — Alnitak, Alnilam, and Mintaka — has been identified by civilizations worldwide for millennia. Orion contains two of the ten brightest stars, Rigel and Betelgeuse, and the famous Orion Nebula (M42), a stellar nursery visible to the naked eye.

The Orion family groups constellations associated with the legendary hunter Orion, one of the most spectacular and universally recognized figures in the sky. This family occupies a region rich in bright stars and nebulae, making it one of the most rewarding areas for observation. Orion itself contains two first-magnitude stars (Betelgeuse and Rigel), the iconic three-star Belt, and the Great Orion Nebula — a stellar nursery visible to the naked eye.

Mythology & History

Orion was a giant huntsman of extraordinary beauty and skill. In the most common version of the myth, he was killed by a scorpion sent by Gaia (or Artemis), which is why Orion and Scorpius are placed on opposite sides of the sky and never appear together. His two hunting dogs, Canis Major and Canis Minor, follow at his heels, with Canis Major containing Sirius — the brightest star in the entire night sky. Lepus the Hare crouches at his feet, and Monoceros the Unicorn was later placed in the gap between his dogs.

Observation Tips

Orion family constellations are best observed during northern hemisphere winter (December-February) and are visible from virtually every inhabited part of Earth. The Orion Nebula (M42) is the most photographed deep sky object and is visible to the naked eye as the middle 'star' of Orion's sword. Sirius in Canis Major, at magnitude -1.46, is unmistakable. Betelgeuse's distinctive red-orange color and semi-regular brightness variations (it is a red supergiant nearing the end of its life) make it a fascinating target for ongoing observation.

HIP 23421HIP 23431HIP 23434HIP 23443HIP 23448HIP 23451HIP 23457HIP 23461HIP 23469HIP 23473HIP 23479HIP 23485HIP 23486HIP 23494HIP 23496HIP 23498HIP 23503HIP 23508HIP 23510HIP 23514HIP 23515HIP 23533HIP 23537HIP 23539HIP 23542HIP 23544HIP 23548HIP 23567HIP 23571HIP 23575HIP 23580HIP 23588HIP 23597HIP 23599HIP 28718HIP 28728HIP 28746HIP 23700HIP 23701HIP 23702HIP 23710HIP 23714HIP 23723HIP 23728HIP 23745HIP 23752HIP 23757HIP 23770

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Orion constellation?
Orion (Ori) is one of the 88 IAU-recognized constellations in the Northern hemisphere. Orion, the Hunter, is one of the most recognizable constellations in the night sky. Straddling the celestial equator, it is visible from nearly everywhere on Earth. Its prominent belt of three stars —
How many stars are cataloged in Orion?
StarFYI currently catalogs 1,975 stars in the constellation Orion.
What is the brightest star in Orion?
The brightest star in Orion is Rigel.
How large is the Orion constellation?
Orion covers 594.12 square degrees of the sky.
What family does Orion belong to?
Orion belongs to the Orion Family of constellations.