Alnitak, Zeta Orionis (ζ Ori), is a triple star system located at a distance of 1,260 light years. It forms Orion's Belt with Alnilam and Mintaka.| Star Facts
Messier 78 (M78) is a reflection nebula located in the northern constellation Orion, the Hunter. M78 is the brightest diffuse reflection nebula in the sky. It has an apparent magnitude of 8.3 and lies at an approximate distance of 1,600 light years from Earth. It has the designation NGC 2068 in the New General Catalogue.… Read More »Messier 78| Messier Objects
The Flame Nebula (NGC 2024) is an emission nebula located 1,350 light years away in the constellation Orion. It is illuminated by the supergiant Alnitak, the easternmost star of Orion's Belt.| www.constellation-guide.com
Asterisms are defined as patterns formed by stars of one or more constellations. These star patterns are commonly recognized by observers across the world and once served as a basis for the modern 88 constellations.| www.constellation-guide.com
The Horsehead Nebula (B33) is a dark nebula located 1,375 light-years away in the constellation Orion. It is part of one of the nearest massive stellar nurseries to the Sun. It appears in the region of Orion's Belt.| www.constellation-guide.com
Rigel (β Ori) is a blue-whlue-white supergiant star located 848 light-years away in the constellation Orion. It is the most luminous star within 1,000 ly of Earth.| Star Facts
Orion's Sword is one of three major asterisms in the constellation Orion, along with Orion's Belt and Orion's Shield. It is formed by three multiple star systems -- 42 Orionis, Theta Orionis, and Iota Orionis -- and the bright, large Orion Nebula (Messier 42).| www.constellation-guide.com
Orion, the Hunter, is one of the best known constellations in the sky. Home to Orion's Belt, the Orion Nebula, and the bright stars Rigel and Betelgeuse, the constellation lies north of the celestial equator and is visible from both hemispheres.| www.constellation-guide.com
Betelgeuse, Alpha Orionis (α Ori), is a red supergiant star and supernova candidate located 548 light-years away in the constellation Orion. Marking the Hunter's shoulder, it is one of the most recognizable stars in the night sky.| Star Facts
Omega Centauri (Caldwell 80, NGC 5139) is the largest and most massive globular cluster in the Milky Way galaxy. With an apparent magnitude of 3.9, the cluster is easily visible to the unaided eye.| www.constellation-guide.com
Messier 45 (M45), also known as the Pleiades or Seven Sisters, is a bright open star cluster located in the constellation Taurus, the Bull. The Pleiades cluster has an apparent magnitude of 1.6 and lies at an average distance of 444 light years from Earth. The cluster is also known as Melotte 22. It does… Read More »Messier 45: Pleiades| Messier Objects
Orion’s Belt is one of the most familiar asterisms in the night sky. It is formed by three stars in the constellation Orion: Alnitak, Alnilam, and Mintaka. The bright blue stars are part of the hourglass-shaped constellation figure of Orion.| www.constellation-guide.com
Messier 44 (M44), also known as the Beehive Cluster or Praesepe (the Manger), is an open star cluster in the constellation Cancer. Praesepe is a bright, large cluster with an apparent magnitude of 3.7. It lies at a distance of 577 light years from Earth. It has the designation NGC 2632 in the New General… Read More »Messier 44: Beehive Cluster| Messier Objects
Messier 31 (M31), better known as the Andromeda Galaxy, is a large spiral galaxy located in the constellation Andromeda. Lying at a distance of 2.54 million light years from Earth, the Andromeda Galaxy is the nearest major galaxy to our own. It is on a collision course with our home galaxy, the Milky Way. Messier… Read More »Messier 31: Andromeda Galaxy| Messier Objects
Charles Messier’s Catalogue of Nebulae and Star Clusters (Catalogue des Nébuleuses et des Amas d’Étoiles) is an astronomical catalogue of 110 bright deep sky objects that may be mistaken for comets. Even though it was compiled for the purpose of helping observers distinguish between permanent and transient objects in the night sky, the Messier catalogue… Read More »Messier Catalogue| Messier Objects