Lemme Introduce You to My most Favorite Constellation, It's Orion!

Orion Nebula by Benjamin Washlam in pexels.com

Hello, Twiskies! I'm back with another astronomy things. Today's discussion is about Orion Constellation. Orion is my most favorite constellation, it because my most favorite star is there. Can you guess it? I'll give you a clue, it's the brightest Orion's star and I've made an article about this star. Try to guess it and type your answer at the comment section, Twiskies! I'll wait for your answers hehe. Okay, let's begin our journey to explore Orion further!

So, Twiskies, Orion is one of the most well-known constellation. I bet all of you already heard about it even just a little bit. 

Orion's Location and How to Spot it

Orion is visible all throughout the world and can be found on the celestial equator. The constellation Orion can be seen at latitudes between +85° and -75°. In Indonesia, Orion can be seen between October until the early May in every year. While in the subtropics country, Orion is easiest to be seen at winter. The easiest way to found Orion is by spotting the three stars which forming into Orion's Belt first. The three stars are Alnitak, Alnilam, and Mintaka. These three stars are located in the center of Orion Constellation.

Orion's Stars Distance to Earth

The distance between Orion's stars with our earth is about 32-1.300 light year, but all of it still can be seen from earth with naked eyes without the telescope. Here's the distance, I'll mention it one by one.

Kappa Orionis 720 light year away from earth

42 Orionis 786 light year away from earth

Betelgeuse 643 light year away from earth

Rigel 772 light year away from earth

Chi1 Orionis 32 light year away from earth

Alnitak 700 light year away from earth

Alnilam 1.300 light year away from earth

Mintaka 900 light year away from earth

Orion Nebula

The Orion Nebula stands as one of the most magnificent and well-studied celestial objects in our night sky. Located approximately 1,344 light-years from Earth within the constellation Orion's Sword, this stellar nursery captivates both amateur astronomers and professionals alike with its mesmerizing beauty. The nebula spans roughly 24 light-years across and serves as a colossal cosmic factory where new stars are born from vast clouds of gas and dust. At its heart lies the Trapezium Cluster, a group of young, hot stars whose intense radiation illuminates the surrounding nebulous material, creating the spectacular glowing appearance we observe from Earth.

Orion's Myth

According to the most popular myth, Orion was a giant hunter who boasted that he could kill any creature on Earth. This hubris angered the goddess Hera, who sent a scorpion to kill him. After his death, Zeus placed Orion among the stars as a constellation, with the scorpion (now the constellation Scorpius) positioned on the opposite side of the sky - when one rises, the other sets, eternally continuing their celestial chase. In another version, Orion was a companion of the goddess Artemis, but he met his end either through the goddess's arrows or the scorpion's sting, depending on the variation of the tale. Some versions also tell of his unrequited love for the Pleiades, the seven sisters whom he endlessly pursues across the night sky. This mythological legacy is reflected in the night sky, where Orion appears as one of the most recognizable constellations, complete with his distinctive belt and raised club.

So, Twiskies, that's Orion. Orion is so interesting isn't it? That's why it become my favorite constellation. What about yours? What is your favorite constellation? Mention it at the comment section! Maybe I'll make an article about your favorite constellation next time.

Cya later, Twiskies!