What it looks like
Orion is a large, brilliant constellation straddling the celestial equator, drawn as a hunter raising a club and shield. Its belt of three stars makes it visible from nearly every inhabited place on Earth, and its sword contains the Orion Nebula, the nearest massive star-forming region to the Sun.
Brightest stars
Orion is packed with bright stars, including two first-magnitude anchors, Betelgeuse and Rigel, plus the seven stars of its belt and sword.
| Star | Magnitude | Distance | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rigel (β Orionis) | +0.13 | 860 ly | Left Foot |
| Betelgeuse (α Orionis) | +0.42 | 548 ly | Armpit of the Giant |
| Bellatrix (γ Orionis) | +1.64 | 250 ly | Female Warrior |
| Alnilam (ε Orionis) | +1.69 | 1,340 ly | Belt |
| Alnitak (ζ Orionis) | +1.74 | 1,260 ly | Belt |
| Saiph (κ Orionis) | +2.07 | 650 ly | Sword |
| Mintaka (δ Orionis) | +2.25 | 1,200 ly | Belt |
Mythology and history
In Greek myth, Orion was a giant huntsman of unmatched skill, placed in the sky by Zeus after his death and set opposite Scorpius so the two could never meet again.
The hunter Orion
Orion was a giant huntsman, son of Poseidon, who could walk on water and boasted he could kill every beast on earth. Gaia sent a scorpion to humble him, and the sting killed him. Zeus placed him in the sky alongside the scorpion, at opposite ends of the heavens so they never share the night sky.
Older roots
The constellation is one of the oldest recorded. A carved mammoth tusk from roughly 32,000 BC shows a figure resembling Orion's Belt, and the stars appear in Babylonian star catalogues as 'The Heavenly Shepherd' as early as 1300 BC.
How to find it
Look for three evenly spaced bright stars in a short, straight line — Orion's Belt — flanked by Betelgeuse above and Rigel below.
- Find the Belt first; it's one of the easiest patterns in the sky.
- Betelgeuse glows orange, Rigel blue-white — the contrast is unmistakable.
- Visible from both hemispheres; best on winter evenings in the north.
Key facts
- Abbreviation
- Ori
- Genitive
- Orionis
- Meaning
- The Hunter
- Brightest star
- Rigel
- Main stars
- 7
- Area rank
- 26th
- Best visible
- January
- Declination
- 0°
- Meteor showers
- Orionids, Chi Orionids
- Neighbours
- Gemini, Taurus, Eridanus, Lepus, Monoceros, Canis Minor, Canis Major
Deep-sky objects
The Orion Nebula (M42) sits in Orion's Sword, about 1,340 light-years away, and is the nearest massive star-forming region to Earth. The Horsehead Nebula (Barnard 33) and the Flame Nebula (NGC 2024) lie near Alnitak in the Belt, and the entire constellation contains the Orion Molecular Cloud Complex.
Frequently asked questions
What does the constellation Orion look like?
Orion is a prominent equatorial constellation known as the Hunter, marked by three bright stars forming Orion's Belt and two first-magnitude stars — Betelgeuse and Rigel — on either side.
What is the brightest star in Orion?
The brightest star in Orion is Rigel, shining at around magnitude 0.13.
When is Orion best visible?
Orion is best seen from both hemispheres during January.
What is the story behind Orion?
In Greek myth, Orion was a giant huntsman of unmatched skill, placed in the sky by Zeus after his death and set opposite Scorpius so the two could never meet again.
Which constellations are near Orion?
Orion borders Gemini, Taurus, Eridanus, Lepus, Monoceros, Canis Minor and Canis Major.
Taurus
Canis Major