The Winter Constellation

The constellation Orion is also called the Hunter. In the Northern Hemisphere, Orion lights up the night sky from late fall to early spring. It is easiest to see Orion during the winter, when it is the brightest constellation in the night sky. A constellation is a group of stars that looks like a figure or a shape. Constellations are usually named for people from myths, or for animals and objects. Orion can be seen from almost anywhere in the world.

To find Orion, first look for three bright stars in a row, high in the southern sky. These stars form Orion’s belt. Around the belt are four stars that make up a slanted rectangle. Two of these stars represent Orion’s arms and the other two stars make up his feet. The column of fainter stars below the belt forms a sword or a scabbard. The positions of the stars above his right shoulder make it look as if his arm is raised and is holding a club. Three stars above his shoulders mark Orion’s head. A group of stars to the right of Orion’s body looks like a shield.