APOD: 2006 December 29 - Alnitak, Alnilam, Mintaka Astronomy Picture of the Day Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. 2006 December 29 Credit: Digitized Sky Survey , ESA/ESO/NASA FITS Liberator Color Composite: Davide De Martin ( Skyfactory ) Explanation: Alnitak , Alnilam , and Mintaka , are the bright bluish stars from east to west (left to right) along the diagonal in this gorgeous cosmic vista. Otherwise known as the Belt of Orion , these three blue supergiant stars are hotter and much more massive than the Sun. They lie about 1,500 light-years away, born of Orion's well-studied interstellar clouds. In fact, clouds of gas and dust adrift in this region have intriguing and some surprisingly familiar shapes, including the dark Horsehead Nebula and Flame Nebula near Alnitak at the lower left. The famous Orion Nebula itself lies off the bottom of this star field that covers an impressive 4.4x3.5 degrees on the sky.

The color picture was composited from digitized black and white photographic plates recorded through red and blue astronomical filters, with a computer synthesized green channel. The plates were taken using the Samuel Oschin Telescope , a wide-field survey instrument at Palomar Observatory , between 1987 and 1991. Mintaka The history of the star: Mintaka from p.314 of Star Names , Richard Hinckley Allen, 1889. Delta (δ) Orion , Mintaka, is a double and slightly variable star, 2.4 and 6.8, brilliant white and pale violet, the west star in the Belt of the Hunter. This star delta (δ Mintaka), along with epsilon (ε Alnilam ) and zeta (ζ Alnitak ) form the Belt of Orion the Hunter. Mintaka, from Al Mintakah, the Belt, Burritt's Atlas of 1856 has it Mintika. Mintaka at the west end is the first star of the belt stars seen to rise. Astrologers considered it of importance as portending good fortune. It is about 23' of arc south of the celestial equator.

[ Star Names , Their Lore and Meaning, Richard Hinckley Allen, 1889]. The Belt of Orion from p.315 of Star Names , Richard Hinckley Allen, 1889. [A scanned copy can be viewed on this webpage ] "Orion's studded belt" - Scott's Lay of the Last Minstrel. Epsilon (ε Alnilam ), zeta (ζ Alnitak ), and delta (δ Mintaka), form the Belt across the middle of Orion . These three stars are one of the most obvious features people see in the sky, and are formed in a row that appear to us of almost equal size and of equal distance from each other; Mintaka, the westernmost star in the belt, comes from the Arabic word for "belt" Alnilam , the center star in the belt, means "a belt of pearls" and Alnitak , the eastern-most star, means the girdle.

These Arabian titles of delta (δ), epsilon (ε), and zeta (ζ), although now applied to them individually, were at first indiscriminately used for the three together; but they had other names also,— Al Nijad, the Belt; Al Nasak, the Line; Al Alkat, the Golden Grains, Nuts, or Spangles; and Fakar al Jauzah, the Vertebrae in the Jauzah's ( Orion 's) back. Niebuhr cited the modern Arabic Al Mizan al H-akk, the Accurate Scale-beam, so distinguishing them from the curved line of the fainter c, theta (θ), iota (ι), d, and kappa (κ), Al Mizan al Batil, the False Scale-beam. The Chinese similarly knew them as a Weighing-beam, with the stars of the sword as a weight at one end. They were the Jugula and Jugulae of Plautus, Varro, and others in Roman literature; the Balteus, or Belt, and the Vagina, or Scabbard, of Germanicus.

The Zona of Ovid (43 B.C.-18?A.D.) may have been taken from the Zone of Aristotle. The early Hindus called them Isus Trikanda, the Three-jointed Arrow; but the later transferred to it the nakshatra ( Hindu Moon Mansion ) title, Mrigashiras. The Sogdian Iranian Rashnawand and the Khorasmian (east of Persia) Khawiya have significations akin to our word "Rectitude," which this straight line of stars personified. The Rabbi Isaac Israel said that it was the Mazzaroth, Mazzaloth, or Mazlatha that most of his nation applied to the zodiac. The Italian astronomer Riccioli (1598-1671) cited Baculus Jacobi, which became in popular English speech Jacob's Rod or Staff,—the German Jakob Stab,— from the tradition given by Eusebius that Israel was an astrologer, as, indeed, he doubtless was; and some had it Peter's Staff.

Similarly, it was the Norse Fiskikallar, or Staff; the Scandinavian Frigge Rok, Frigg's, or Freya's, Distaff,— in West Gothland Frigge Rakken,— and Maria Rok, Mary's Distaff; in Schleswig, Peri-pik. In Lapland it was altered to Kalevan Miekka, Kaleva's Sword, or still more changed to Niallar, a Tavern; while the Greenlanders had a very different figure here,— Siktut, the Seal-hunters, bewildered when lost at sea, and transferred together to the sky. The native Australians knew the stars as Young Men dancing a corroboree, the Pleiades being the Maidens playing for them; and the Poignave Indians of the Orinoco, according to Von Humboldt, as Fuebot, a word that he said resembled the Phoenician. The University of Leipsic, in 1807, gave to the Belt and the stars in the Sword the new title Napoleon, which a retaliating Englishman offset by Nelson; but neither of these has been recognized on star-maps or globes.

{p.316} Seamen have called it the Golden Yard-arm; tradesmen, the L, or Ell, the Ell and Yard, the Yard-stick, and the Yard-wand, as occupying 3° between the outer stars,— the Elwand of Gavin Douglas; Catholics, Our Lady's Wand; and the husbandmen of France and along the Rhine, Rateau, the Rake. In Upper Germany it has been the Three Mowers; and it is often the Magi, the Three Kings, the Three Marys, or simply the Three Stars, that Tennyson had in his Princess,— "those three stars of the airy Giants' zone That glitter burnished by the frosty dark." The celestial equator now passes through the Belt, but was 12° below it 4000 years ago. [ Star Names , Their Lore and Meaning, Richard Hinckley Allen, 1889]. The astrological influences of the constellation Orion Legend: The giant Orion was created out of an ox-hide by the Gods, Jupiter, Neptune and Mercury, at the request of Hyreus who had entertained them.

He was blinded by Oenopion (the name means "wine-faced") for having raped Merope, Oenopion's daughter, but recovered his sight by exposing his eyes to the rising sun. In consequence of his boast that he could slay any beast bred upon the earth the scorpion ( Scorpius ) was brought forth and Orion died from its sting. [Robson * , p.55.] Influences: According to Ptolemy the bright stars with the exception of Betelgeuze and Bellatrix are like Jupiter and Saturn. It is said to give a strong and dignified nature, self-confidence, inconstancy, arrogance, violence, impiety, prosperity in trade and particularly by voyages or abroad, but danger of treachery and poison. It was thought by the Romans to be very harmful to cattle and productive of storms.

By the Kabalists it is associated with the Hebrew letter Aleph and the 1st Tarot Trump "The Juggler." [Robson * , p.55.] The astrological influences of the constellation Orion given by Manilius: "Near neighbor to the Twins ( Gemini ), Orion may be seen stretching his arms over a vast expanse of sky and rising to the stars with no less huge a stride. A single light marks each of his shining shoulders, and three aslant trace the downward line of his sword: but three mark Orion's head, which is imbedded in high heaven with his countenance remote. It is Orion who leads the constellations as they speed over the full circuit of heaven." [ Astronomica , Manilius, 1st century AD. p.35.] " Orion will fashion alert minds and agile bodies, souls prompt to respond to duty's call, and hearts which press on with unflagging energy in spite of every trial.

A son of Orion's will be worth a multitude and will seem to dwell in every quarter of the city; flying from door to door with the one word of morning greeting, he will enjoy the friendship of all." [ Astronomica , Manilius, 1st century AD. p.305.] The astrological influences of the star Mintaka Note: Robson gives influences for Mintaka and Alnilam separately and jointly under Cingula Orionis; the Belt of Orion . According to Ptolemy Mintaka is of the nature of Saturn and Mercury; and to Alvidas, of Mercury, Saturn and Jupiter. It gives good fortune. [Robson * , p.177.] General influence of the Cingula Orionis (Orion's Belt): The joint influence is to give strength, energy, industry, organizing abilities, notoriety, good fortune, lasting happiness, a sharp mind and a good memory. [Robson * , p.156.] When rising, Alnilam , together with Alnitak and Mintaka, portend irreligious and treacherous individuals.

These stars in medieval times were said to presage those who were "passionately devoted to hunting, but not noble hunting with falcon or bow". Aspected by Saturn, the indications are for excellent fishermen, and in a female chart, any of these three stars rising or aspected by both Mars and a benefic portend a shrew. When setting and aspected by Mars any of these three stars indicate individuals who will incur all kinds of dangers. Mintaka alone portents good fortune as regards the growing of grain crops. [ Fixed Stars and Judicial Astrology , George Noonan, 1990, p.44.] Cingula Orionis with a malefic and the Moon at the same time with Markab (23 Pisces): death at human hands. [Robson * , p.157.] Cingula Orionis rising: Legacies, love or dissipation, gravity and austerity. [Robson * , p.156.] Mintaka with Sun: Discreet, cautious, somewhat changeable. [Robson * , p.177.] Cingula Orionis with Sun: Notoriety, good fortune, lasting happiness.

[Robson * , p.157.] Mintaka with the Moon: Active, sharp, alert in business, public position, many enemies more successful in business. [Robson * , p.177.] Cingula Orionis with Moon: Blindness of at least one eye, new and influential friends, valuable gifts, love of respectable women. If a malefic be with Markab, drowning. If the moon is with Saturn also, drowning and assassination. [Robson * , p.157.] Influences for Mintaka alone: With Mercury: Studious, fond of seclusion, deliberate and fixed mind, little sympathy or disagreements with relatives. [Robson * , p.177.] With Venus: Public position, enmity of women, love disappointments. [Robson * , p.177.] With Mars: Energetic, quick mind, good speaker and debater, quarrelsome, strong passions. [Robson * , p.178.] With Jupiter: High position in law or church, studious and philosophical mind, gain through inheritance.

[Robson * , p.178.] With Saturn: Far-seeing, studious, good judge of human nature, psychic, domestic disharmony, sickness to family. [Robson * , p.178.] With Uranus: Selfish, studious, eccentric, difficult to get on with, losses through lawsuits and business, successful in middle age but poverty at end of life, favorable for domestic matters, death from consumption. [Robson * , p.178.] With Neptune: Thoughtful, studious, keeps discoveries to himself, sarcastic writer, generous but not wealthy, rarely marries, death unattended in old age. [Robson * , p.178.] References: Orion's Belt: Stars, Facts, Location, Myths | Constellation Guide Constellation Guide Constellations: A Guide to the Night Sky Orion’s Belt by admin Orion’s Belt is one of the most familiar asterisms in the night sky, along with the Big Dipper and the Southern Cross . It is formed by three massive, bright stars located in our galaxy, in the direction of the constellation Orion, the Hunter : Alnilam, Alnitak and Mintaka.

Two of the three stars are supergiants. Orion’s Belt is easy to find in the night sky as it is located on the celestial equator and part of one of the most prominent stellar patterns in the northern sky, the hourglass-shaped constellation Orion. The asterism and the constellation are visible in northern latitudes from November to February. The best time of year to observe the asterism is in January around 9 PM. Finding Orion’s Belt is the easiest way to locate Orion constellation , one of the best known constellations in the sky, which carries great significance across many different cultures, from Egypt to Greece and beyond. The three stars of the Orion’s Belt are pretty evenly spaced and form a more or less straight line, which makes them easy to locate. Because the belt stars are so prominent in the northern sky, they are associated with a number of stories and myths. The stars are known as the Three Kings, Three Marys, Frigg’s Distaff, Three Sisters, the Weighing Beam, and by many other names in different mythologies, from the Babylonians to Egyptians and Greeks.

Orion’s Belt stars and Flame Nebula , photo: Davide De Martin, Digitized Sky Survey, ESA, ESO, NASA FITS Liberator The Greeks associated the stars with the mythical hunter Orion, with the constellations Canis Major and Canis Minor representing the hunter’s dogs and the constellation Scorpius , representing the scorpion that killed Orion, placed on the opposite end of the sky so that the two are never above the horizon at the same time. In ancient Egypt, the stars of the Orion’s Belt were the symbol of Osiris, but the extent of their importance has only been speculated about. The belt stars are not perfectly aligned, and their alignment matches that of the three pyramids of Giza, while Orion’s orientation to the Milky Way matches the pyramids’ orientation to the river Nile. This has given rise to speculation that the three great pyramids were not just tombs, but also served as the pharaohs’ gateway to heaven. The constellation Orion was also associated with the Egyptian pharaoh Unas of the Fifth Dynasty. STARS The three bright stars that form the Orion’s Belt are Alnitak, Alnilam, and Mintaka.

The stars are believed to have formed from the same nebula in Orion constellation , and they are roughly the same age. The two stars at either end of Orion’s Belt – Alnitak and Mintaka – are actually closer together because the middle star, Alnilam, which is the brightest of the three, is also much more distant from Earth than the other two. The belt stars are members of the Orion OB1b association, along with many other stars in this region, and they travel together through space. They were all formed inside the same molecular cloud about 4 million years ago. The stars were collectively known by different names in different countries and cultures, including the Weighing Beam in Chinese and Al Nijād (the Belt), Al Nasak (the Line), Al Alkāt (the Golden Grains/Nuts) and Al Mīzān al Ḥaqq (the Accurate Scale Beam) in Arabic. Pre-Christian Scandinavians knew them as Friggerock (Frigg’s Distaff) or Freyja’s Distaff.

In Latin America, the belt stars are known as Las Tres Marías (Spanish) or As Três Marias (Portuguese), meaning the Three Marys. In Puerto Rico and the Philippines , the stars are called Los Tres Reyes Magos, referring to the Three Kings or the Biblical Magi who visited baby Jesus. Orion stars – Photo taken by Rogelio Bernal Andreo in October 2010 of the Orion constellation showing the surrounding nebulas of the Orion Molecular Cloud complex. Also captured is the red supergiant Betelgeuse (top left) and the famous belt of Orion composed of the OB stars Altitak, Alnilam and Mintaka. To the bottom right can be found the star Rigel. The red crescent shape is Barnard’s Loop. The photograph appeared as the Astronomy Picture of the Day on October 23, 2010. Alnitak, also known as ζ Orionis (Zeta Orionis) or 50 Orionis, is a triple star system located at the eastern end of the Belt of Orion.

The star system is approximately 736 light years distant from Earth and over 100,000 times more luminous than the Sun. The combined apparent magnitude of the system is 1.72. The name Alnitak comes from the Arabic an-niṭāq, which means “the girdle.” The name is sometimes also spelled Al Nitak or Alnitah. The primary component in the Alnitak system is a close binary star composed of a blue supergiant belonging to the spectral class O9.7 Ibe and a blue dwarf with the stellar classification O9V. The supergiant has an apparent magnitude of 2.0 and an absolute magnitude of -5.25, and the dwarf has a visual magnitude of around 4 and an absolute magnitude of -3.0. The supergiant has a mass about 27 times that of the Sun and a diameter 19 times solar. It is the brightest O-class star in the sky, with a luminosity 180,000 times solar. The blue dwarf was only discovered in 1998.

It has a mass about 19 times solar and a radius 7.5 times that of the Sun. The third component in the Alnitak system is a 4th magnitude B0-type star which orbits the main pair every 1,500 years. There is a 9th magnitude star along the same line of sight, but it is unclear whether it is physically related to the system or just an optical companion. This image, the first to be released publicly from VISTA, the world’s largest survey telescope, shows the spectacular star-forming region known as the Flame Nebula , or NGC 2024, in the constellation of Orion (the Hunter) and its surroundings. In views of this evocative object in visible light the core of the nebula is completely hidden behind obscuring dust, but in this VISTA view, taken in infrared light, the cluster of very young stars at the object’s heart is revealed. The wide-field VISTA view also includes the glow of the reflection nebula NGC 2023, just below centre, and the ghostly outline of the Horsehead Nebula (Barnard 33) towards the lower right.

The bright bluish star towards the right is one of the three bright stars forming the Belt of Orion. Image: ESO/J. Emerson/VISTA. Acknowledgment: Cambridge Astronomical Survey Unit Alnitak lies near the nebulous region IC 434, whose light is blocked by the Horsehead Nebula , a famous dark nebula in Orion . Other notable deep sky objects in this region are the emission nebula NGC 2024, also known as the Flame Nebula , and the reflection nebula NGC 2023. Alnilam, also known as ε Orionis (Epsilon Orionis) or 46 Orionis, is the middle star of the Orion’s Belt. It is located at a distance of 1,340 light years from Earth. The star is a large blue supergiant with a visual magnitude of 1.70 and an absolute magnitude of -6.37. Alnilam is the 30th brightest star in the sky and the fourth brightest in Orion constellation , after Rigel, Betelgeuse and Bellatrix.

It has the stellar classification B0 Ia and is also classified as an Alpha Cygni type variable, which is to say it is a supergiant star that exhibits non-radial pulsations, with some portions of its surface contracting while others expand. The name Alnilam is derived from the Arabic an-niżām, which means “the string of pearls.” Alnilam may evolve into a red supergiant over the next million years and eventually end its life in a supernova explosion. The star is losing mass around 20 times more rapidly than the Sun as a result of strong stellar winds, possibly reaching up to 2,000 km/s. Alnilam has a radius 30 times that of the Sun and is 375,000 times more luminous. The star’s estimated surface temperature is 26,200 K. The star is surrounded by NGC 1990, a molecular cloud turned into a reflection nebula by the light of the bright star. Mintaka, also known as δ Orionis (Delta Orionis) or 34 Orionis, is the westernmost star of the Orion’s Belt.

It is a binary star approximately 916 light years from Earth. It has an apparent magnitude of 2.21 and an absolute magnitude of -4.99. It is 90,000 times more luminous and 20 times more massive than the Sun. The two stars in the Mintaka system orbit each other every 5.73 days. The system is classified as an eclipsing binary. The name Mintaka, pronounced MIN-ta-ka, comes from the Arabic manṭaqa, which means “the belt.” Delta Orionis is really a multiple star system. The main component is the binary star, one consisting of a B-type giant (B0.5III) and a smaller yet hotter O-type star (O9.5 II). There is also a magnitude 7 star located 52” away from the primary component and another fainter star in between. LOCATION Orion constellation can easily be found in the sky from November to February. For observers in the northern hemisphere, the constellation lies in the southwestern sky. For those in southern latitudes, Orion can be seen in the northwestern sky and appears to be standing on his head.

The constellation’s hourglass shape is marked by the stars Betelgeuse , Bellatrix, Saiph, and Rigel, which are among the brightest stars in the night sky. Betelgeuse and Bellatrix mark the hunter’s shoulders and Saiph and Rigel mark his feet. Orion’s Belt and Sirius The stars forming a diagonal line below the Orion’s Belt form an asterism known as Orion’s Sword. The star lying in the middle of the sword is not a star at all, but the famous Orion Nebula ( Messier 42 ), which appears as a patch of light to the naked eye on clear nights. To the east, the line of the Orion’s Belt points toward Sirius , the brightest star in the sky, located in Canis Major constellation . To the west, the three stars point in the direction of Aldebaran , the brightest star in Taurus constellation , making it easy to locate the famous Pleiades ( Messier 45 ) and Hyades star clusters.

PYRAMIDS The shape of different constellations and asterisms changes over time as a result of stars not being stationary and moving through space, but the three stars of the Orion’s Belt share the same origin and have the same proper motion, which means that they travel together, with the asterism retaining a similar shape over the centuries. This means that the Orion’s Belt looked almost the same in ancient times as it does now. Aerial photo of the Giza pyramid complex, image : © Raimond Spekking / CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons) In ancient Egyptian mythology, Orion and the bright star Sirius represent Osiris and Isis. Ancient Egyptians believed that the gods descended from Sirius and the Belt of Orion, and instigated the human race. The three pyramids on the Giza Plateau simulate the alignment of the three belt stars, and the air shafts inside the pyramids point directly toward Orion constellation. They are believed to be there to project the pharaoh’s soul toward Orion . While this theory remains a theory, the correspondence between the stars and the pyramids is quite remarkable.

TEOTIHUACÁN A similar correspondence was discovered in the ruins of the ancient city of Teotihuacán, which lies 35 miles to the northeast of Mexico City. Two large pyramids and a temple, believed to have been built in the 2nd century BC, point directly to the Orion’s Belt and their layout mimics that of the three belt stars. The construction of the ancient city was attributed to a race of giants, the Quinametzin Giants, who were believed to have populated the world in an earlier era. The pyramid of the Sun in Teotihuacán is exactly half as tall as the Great pyramid of Giza. Orion’s Belt: Alnitak, Alnilam, and Mintaka, are the bright bluish stars from east to west (left to right) along the diagonal in this gorgeous cosmic vista. Otherwise known as the Belt of Orion, these three blue supergiant stars are hotter and much more massive than the Sun. They lie about 1,500 light-years away. Photo: Astrowicht Alnilam The history of the star: Alnilam from p.314 of Star Names , Richard Hinckley Allen, 1889.

Epsilon (ε) Orion , Alnilam, is a brilliant white star occupying the central position in Orion 's belt. Alnilam, Anilam, Ainilam, and Alnihan are from Al Nitham, or Al Nathm, the String of Pearls, or, as British physicist Robert Recorde (1500-1558) said, the Bullions set in the middle of Orion's Belt. It portended fleeting public honors to those born under its influence. [ Star Names , Their Lore and Meaning, Richard Hinckley Allen, 1889]. The Belt of Orion from p.315 of Star Names , Richard Hinckley Allen, 1889. [A scanned copy can be viewed on this webpage ] Epsilon (ε Alnilam), zeta (ζ Alnitak ), and delta (δ Mintaka ), form the Belt of Orion .

One of the most obvious features people see in the sky is the three stars that form the "belt" across the middle of Orion; three stars in a row that appear to us of almost equal size and of equal distance from each other; Mintaka , the westernmost star in the belt, comes from the Arabic word for "belt" Alnilam, this center star in the belt, means "a belt of pearls" and Alnitak , the eastern-most star, means the girdle. These Arabian titles of delta (δ), epsilon (ε), and zeta (ζ), although now applied to them individually, were at first indiscriminately used for the three together; but they had other names also,— Al Nijad, the Belt; Al Nasak, the Line; Al Alkat, the Golden Grains, Nuts, or Spangles; and Fakar al Jauzah, the Vertebrae in the Jauzah's ( Orion 's) back.

Niebuhr cited the modern Arabic Al Mizan al H-akk, the Accurate Scale-beam, so distinguishing them from the curved line of the fainter c, theta (θ), iota (ι), d, and kappa (κ), Al Mizan al Batil, the False Scale-beam. The Chinese similarly knew them as a Weighing-beam, with the stars of the sword as a weight at one end. They were the Jugula and Jugulae of Plautus, Varro, and others in Roman literature; the Balteus, or Belt, and the Vagina, or Scabbard, of Germanicus. The Zona of Ovid (43 B.C.-18?A.D.) may have been taken from the Zone of Aristotle. The early Hindus called them Isus Trikanda, the Three-jointed Arrow; but the later transferred to it the nakshatra ( Hindu Moon Mansion ) title, Mrigashiras. The Sogdian Iranian Rashnawand and the Khorasmian (east of Persia) Khawiya have significations akin to our word "Rectitude," which this straight line of stars personified.

The Rabbi Isaac Israel said that it was the Mazzaroth, Mazzaloth, or Mazlatha that most of his nation applied to the zodiac. The Italian astronomer Riccioli (1598-1671) cited Baculus Jacobi, which became in popular English speech Jacob's Rod or Staff,—the German Jakob Stab,— from the tradition given by Eusebius that Israel was an astrologer, as, indeed, he doubtless was; and some had it Peter's Staff. Similarly, it was the Norse Fiskikallar, or Staff; the Scandinavian Frigge Rok, Frigg's, or Freya's, Distaff,— in West Gothland Frigge Rakken,— and Maria Rok, Mary's Distaff; in Schleswig, Peri-pik. In Lapland it was altered to Kalevan Miekka, Kaleva's Sword, or still more changed to Niallar, a Tavern; while the Greenlanders had a very different figure here,— Siktut, the Seal-hunters, bewildered when lost at sea, and transferred together to the sky.

The native Australians knew the stars as Young Men dancing a corroboree, the Pleiades being the Maidens playing for them; and the Poignave Indians of the Orinoco, according to Von Humboldt, as Fuebot, a word that he said resembled the Phoenician. The University of Leipsic, in 1807, gave to the Belt and the stars in the Sword the new title Napoleon, which a retaliating Englishman offset by Nelson; but neither of these has been recognized on star-maps or globes. {p.316} Seamen have called it the Golden Yard-arm; tradesmen, the L, or Ell, the Ell and Yard, the Yard-stick, and the Yard-wand, as occupying 3° between the outer stars,— the Elwand of Gavin Douglas; Catholics, Our Lady's Wand; and the husbandmen of France and along the Rhine, Rateau, the Rake.

In Upper Germany it has been the Three Mowers; and it is often the Magi, the Three Kings, the Three Marys, or simply the Three Stars, that Tennyson had in his Princess,— "those three stars of the airy Giants' zone That glitter burnished by the frosty dark." The celestial equator now passes through the Belt, but was 12° below it 4000 years ago. [ Star Names , Their Lore and Meaning, Richard Hinckley Allen, 1889]. The astrological influences of the constellation Orion Legend: The giant Orion was created out of an ox-hide by the Gods, Jupiter, Neptune and Mercury, at the request of Hyreus who had entertained them. He was blinded by Oenopion (the name means "wine-faced") for having raped Merope, Oenopion's daughter, but recovered his sight by exposing his eyes to the rising sun. In consequence of his boast that he could slay any beast bred upon the earth the scorpion ( Scorpius ) was brought forth and Orion died from its sting.

[Robson * , p.55.] Influences: According to Ptolemy the bright stars with the exception of Betelgeuze and Bellatrix are like Jupiter and Saturn. It is said to give a strong and dignified nature, self-confidence, inconstancy, arrogance, violence, impiety, prosperity in trade and particularly by voyages or abroad, but danger of treachery and poison. It was thought by the Romans to be very harmful to cattle and productive of storms. By the Kabalists it is associated with the Hebrew letter Aleph and the 1st Tarot Trump "The Juggler." [Robson * , p.55.] The astrological influences of the constellation Orion given by Manilius: "Near neighbor to the Twins ( Gemini ), Orion may be seen stretching his arms over a vast expanse of sky and rising to the stars with no less huge a stride. A single light marks each of his shining shoulders, and three aslant trace the downward line of his sword: but three mark Orion's head, which is imbedded in high heaven with his countenance remote.

It is Orion who leads the constellations as they speed over the full circuit of heaven." [ Astronomica , Manilius, 1st century AD. p.35.] " Orion will fashion alert minds and agile bodies, souls prompt to respond to duty's call, and hearts which press on with unflagging energy in spite of every trial. A son of Orion's will be worth a multitude and will seem to dwell in every quarter of the city; flying from door to door with the one word of morning greeting, he will enjoy the friendship of all." [ Astronomica , Manilius, 1st century AD. p.305.] The astrological influences of the star Alnilam According to Ptolemy it is of the nature of Jupiter and Saturn; and to Alvidas of Mercury and Saturn. It gives fleeting public honors. [Robson * , p.128.] The star Alnilam portends public honors to all those born under its influence. It is also said to indicate a good nut crop. When rising, Alnilam. together with Alnitak and Mintaka , portend irreligious and treacherous individuals.

These stars in medieval times were said to presage those who were "passionately devoted to hunting, but not noble hunting with falcon or bow". Aspected by Saturn, the indications are for excellent fishermen, and in a female chart, any of these three stars rising or aspected by both Mars and a benefic portend a shrew. When setting and aspected by Mars any of these three stars indicate individuals who will incur all kinds of dangers. [ Fixed Stars and Judicial Astrology , George Noonan, 1990, p.44.] General influence of the Cingula Orionis (Orion's Belt): The joint influence is to give strength, energy, industry, organizing abilities, notoriety, good fortune, lasting happiness, a sharp mind and a good memory. [Robson * , p.156.] Cingula Orionis with a malefic and the Moon at the same time with Markab (23 Pisces): death at human hands. [Robson * , p.157.] Cingula Orionis rising: Legacies, love or dissipation, gravity and austerity.

[Robson * , p.156.] Alnilam with the Sun: Rash, headstrong, surly. If also culminating, military preferment and gain. [Robson * , p.128.] Cingula Orionis with Sun: Notoriety, good fortune, lasting happiness. [Robson * , p.157.] Alnilam with the Moon: Many sudden and unexpected losses and reverses, much help from friends, ill health of family. [Robson * , p.129.] Cingula Orionis with Moon: Blindness of at least one eye, new and influential friends, valuable gifts, love of respectable women. If a malefic be with Markab, drowning. If the moon is with Saturn also, drowning and assassination. [Robson * , p.157.] Influences for Alnilam alone: Alnilam with Mercury: hasty, quick temper, quarrels with associates, domestic disharmony through actions, troubles through writings and opposite sex. [Robson * , p.129.] With Venus: Trouble through love affairs, scandal, enemies among women. [Robson * ].

With Mars: Quarrels, loss by lawsuits, domestic disharmony, bad health, violent death. [Robson * , p.129.] With Jupiter: Legal or Church preferment but danger of disgrace, loss by speculation, trouble through relatives and foreign affairs. [Robson * , p.129.] With Saturn: Courageous, domestic disharmony, leaves home early, successful but many unexpected losses, favorable for health. [Robson * , p.129.] With Uranus: Scientific ability, critical, enthusiastic, too many interests, may practice medicine or invent new surgical appliances but reaps no gain from them, many troubles and annoyances, disharmony with brothers and sisters who may cheat native out of inheritance, loss through law and in business, several marriages, enmity between native and partner's relatives, unfavorable for children, sudden death in middle age while travelling, leaving affairs involved in litigation.

[Robson * , p.129.] With Neptune: Honest, outspoken, hasty in speech, rash and impulsive, offends others through irreligious speech, business and mercantile pursuits or engaged in science, may be head of learned institution or connected with large companies, fond of speculation, sports and the water, quick and level headed in emergencies, many friends but loss through some, danger of accidents, domestic harmony, dies before old age. [Robson * , p.129.] References: Alnitak / Zeta Orionis 3 Like Theta1 Orionis C, the brightest of the four central stars of the Trapezium Cluster in Orion (at left), Alnitak Aa is an O-type star located around 800 light-years away. It is a blue supergiant that is brighter than any of the stars of the " Solar neighborhood " known to be located within 100 light-years of Sol.

System Summary Once thought to be around 1,500 to 1,600 light-years (ly) away, the Alnitak, or Zeta Orionis, system is now estimated to be located around 820 +/- 170 ly from Sol (based on a HIPPARCOS Plx= 3.99 +/- e_Plx= 0.79 mas). It lies in the south central part (5:40:45.5-1:56:34 for Stars Aab, J2000, or 5:40:45.5-1:56:33.3, ICRS 2000) of Constellation Orion (see chart and labelled photo ), the Hunter. There, Alnitak can be found at: left or immediately southeast of the neighboring belt stars of Alnilam (Epsilon Orionis) and Mintaka (Delta Orionis); southwest of Betelgeuse (Alpha Orionis), northeast of Rigel , and northwest of Saiph (Kappa Orionis). enhanced colors ).

In the venerable Star Names: Their Lore and Meaning , Richard Hinckley Allen noted that its proper name, Alnitak (or Alnitah), is derived from the Arabic for Al Nitak meaning "The Belt" or "The Girdle" of Orion. Alnitak is the easternmost of the three stars of Orion's Belt , with Alnilam in the center and Mintaka in the west. All three were originally thought to be at a similar distance from Sol and (with Rigel , Saiph , and Meissa ) probably formed at about the same time, around some 10 million years ago from the molecular clouds observed in Orion . Davide De Martin APOD ). In addition to wide binary companion Star B, Alnitak's primary also has a close stellar companion Ab, ( USNO press release ). However, the star (sometimes called "C") that has a separation of around 57.6" away is thought to be a optical companion. Alnitak lies in a region crowded with several dusty clouds of interstellar gas actively forming new stars, including the famous " Horsehead Nebula " to the south.

The system is a member of the " Orion OB1 Association ," where massive young objects with over 10 times the Sol's mass can be found in abundance (more on OB associations and stellar nurseries ). Zeta Orionis A or Aa Alnitak Aa is a blue supergiant star of spectral and luminosity type O9.7 Ibe (with "peculiar" emission lines), where O-type stars are the hottest stars in the spectral sequence excluding white dwarfs. The star may have as much as 28 times Sol's mass ( Hummel et al, 2000 , in pdf ), perhaps 20 times Sol's diameter ( Remie and Lamers, 1982 , page 87; as reported in Pasinetti-Fracassini et al, 2001 ), and around 100,000 times its bolometric luminosity, which is much greater than its visual luminosity of around 10,500 times Solar.

The European Space Agency's astrometry satellite HIPPARCOS has measured Zeta Orionis Aab's distance from Earth to be around 820 light years, giving it an absolute visual magnitude of -5.25 (based on a HIPPARCOS Vmag= 1.74), somewhat under-luminous for stars of its class; however, these measurements may have been significantly affected by the presence of the recently discovered, dimmer close stellar companion Ab (described below). Even so, Alnitak Aa is the brightest O-type star in Earth's night sky (according to Professor Jim Kaler's excellent Stars ' web page on Alnitak ). Its 31,000-degree-Kelvin surface, however, radiates mostly ultraviolet wavelengths that are invisible to Human eyes. evolution and death . Type-O supergiants show strong stellar winds that produce optical spectral emission lines and thermal radio and X-ray emissions. How these stars produce high-energy X-rays, however, is still subject to intense research because they lack significant magnetic fields and are not sufficiently hot despite their very high surface temperatures. Alnitak Aa seems to generate and maintain magnetic loops like Sol, which is difficult for astronomers to explain.

Although O-type stars have inner convection zones in their core, they are believed to lack outer convection zones, which astronomers considered necessary to create the hot and energetic plasmas confined in magnetic loops. Convection zones are internal regions where most of the energy is transported by fluid motions from hotter regions to cooler ones. Without such zones located near a star's surface, astronomers are currently unable to explain how high-density knots of X-rays could exist. On the other hand, shock waves created in the turbulent stellar wind flow are an important part of current theories. Like all O stars, Alnitak Aa's X-rays may come from a wind that blows from its surface at nearly 2,000 km (1,200 miles) per second, which produces x-rays when blobs of gas in the wind crash violently into one another ( Donati et al, 2002 ; Waldron and Cassinelli, 2001 , and 2000 in pdf ; and CXC press release, 10/18/2000 ). Massive stars use their fuel quickly and do not live very long.

Although Alnitak Aa may only be around six million years old, hydrogen fusion may already have ceased at its core. The star will eventually become a red supergiant somewhat like Betelgeuse and will probably explode as a supernova. Useful catalogue numbers and designations for the star include: Zet Ori A, 50 Ori A, HR 1948/9, HIP 26727, HD 37742, BD-02 1338, SAO 132444, STF 774 A, and ADS 4263 A. Wayne R. Waldron, Joseph P. Cassinelli, (more on x-ray emissions ). In a wide orbit around the primary is a 4th magnitude visual companion, a B-type giant star that is currently separated by about 2.3 arcseconds ( USNO press release , 4/15/1998). The pair orbits each other with a period estimated around 1,500 years long. According to old calculations (from J.

Hopmann in 1967) cited in the Sixth Catalog of Orbits of Visual Binaries , Star "B" is separated on average from the primary by around 680 AUs (a semi-major axis of a= 2.728" at a distance of 817 ly), with an estimated orbital period of 1,508.6 years. Their highly circular orbit (e= 0.07) is inclined 72.0� from the perspective of an observer from Earth. Larger , stacked three-color image of Stars Aa and Ab (where colors indicate motion). In addition to a blue-white, stellar companion B in a wide orbit, Alnitak Aa has another, closer stellar companion Ab ( more ). In 1998, Star A was found to have a close stellar companion ("Ab") only around 11 AUs away (0.042" in February and March 1998 at a distance of 820 ly). The close companion is only two magnitudes fainter and would be easily visible to the naked eye from Earth if it was farther from its brighter neighbor.

The relative motion of the inner stellar pair has been detected, which was "most likely due to their being gravitationaly bound with an orbital period of only a few years" ( Hummel et al, 2000 , in pdf ; and USNO press release ). Zeta Orionis Ab As Star Ab has a high visual magnitude (around 4) and a presumably youthful age of a few million years shared with the primary, it may be a late O-type main sequence dwarf ( Hummel et al, 2000 , in pdf ). Hence, it should have a much greater mass (e.g., 23 times Solar), diameter, and visual luminosity (over 1,300 times Solar) than Sol. Zeta Orionis C? This star is located at a position of 10 degrees and 58 arcseconds to the north of the primary ( Hummel et al, 2000 , in pdf ; Abad et al, 1998 ; and Mason et al, 1998 ). It has an apparent magnitude of 9, for a visual luminosity of about 13 times Solar. According to Robert Burnham, Jr.

(1931-93), it is probably not gravitationally bound to the Alnitak system. Other Information Try Professor Jim Kaler's Stars site for other information about Alnitak at the University of Illinois' Department of Astronomy. Additional information may be available at Alcyone Astronomical Software 's page on Alnitak . Constellation Orion is named after a legendary Hunter in Greek mythology. According to one story, Orion died after being stung by a scorpion. He was placed in the sky where he sets in the west while his slayer, Constellation Scorpius, raises in the east. Followed by his two dogs, he is now fighting the bull Taurus. According to another story, however, Orion was banished to the sky by the Gods after boasting of how many animals he would kill (to impress Eos). Now he and his dogs, constellations Canis Major and Minor, chase the constellations representing animals but can never catch them. For more information and an illustration of the constellation, go to Christine Kronberg's Orion . For another illustration, see David Haworth's Orion .

For more information about stars including spectral and luminosity class codes, go to ChView's webpage on The Stars of the Milky Way . * Mintaka (Astronomy) - Definition,meaning - Online Encyclopedia The name derives from Arabic Al Mintakah, meaning 'The Belt'. It has a companion of 7th magnitude , a B2V star (HR number: 1851). The magnitude of Mintaka is slightly variable, a fact that could be due to the eclipsing companion with an orbital period of 5.73 days. This star is also known as Mintika . The name derives from the Arabic: Al Mintakah meaning "The Belt". The name is appropriate to the star 's position as the westernmost star of Orion 's belt. With this position the star is the first star of the belt to be seen as Orion rises. Description of the Star ... Mintaka - Î´ Orion is ( Delta Orionis , 34 Orion is) Mintaka, Delta Orionis , is the westernmost of the three stars in the Belt of Orion . It is the right-most star when observed from the Northern Hemisphere , facing south.

Mintaka garnered the name Delta Orionis from Bayer, even though it is the faintest of the three stars in Orion 's Belt.[37] Its name means "the belt".[31] It is a multiple star system , composed of a large B-type blue giant and a more massive O-type white star . Mintaka One of the three stars in Orion 's belt, and the star along whose line of sight interstellar gas was first spectroscopically detected. Minute of Arc ... â´ Mintaka is about 8 ï¿½- more luminous than Sargas . c) Rather than actually calculate the exact distance to each star based on its apparent and absolute magnitude s we can simply determine the distance modulus , m - M for each. Mintaka has a distance modulus of +2.25-(-4.99) = 7. delta Ori, Mintaka (arab.: upper end of the girdle), a blue-white star of 2.2 mag with a 7th mag companion.

iota Ori, a 3rd mag and a 7th mag star forming an unequal double; in the same field the wider double Struve 747 can be found - a pair of a 5th mag and a 6th mag star . Mintaka, the westernmost star , is a two- star system . The primary is a massive O-type blue supergiant , and the secondary a slightly smaller B-type blue-white star . MINTAKA Mintaka ( Delta Orionis ) is the uppermost and faintest of the three major stars that form belt of Orion , a constellation in the Northern Hemisphere (the other two stars in the belt ate Alnitak and Alnilam ). Mintaka (which means "belt") is located quite near the celestial equator . Mintaka The star 8 Orion is, visual mag. 2.25, distance about 2000 l.y., spectral type O9.5 II. The northernmost of the three stars that form the Belt of Orion , Mintaka is an eclipsing binary , an ALGOL STAR with a period of 5.37 days and a total range of just over 0.1 mag.

It has a wide companion of mag. 6. Alnilam , Mintaka and Alnitak , which form Orion ’s belt, are the most prominent stars in the Orion constellation . Betelgeuse , the second brightest star in Orion , establishes the right shoulder of the hunter. Bellatrix serves as Orion 's left shoulder. Orion 's belt, Mintaka at right, Alnilam in the center, and Alnitak at left, runs through the middle of the picture. Betelgeuse is the bright reddish star at upper left, Rigel the bright star at lower right, Bellatrix the star to the right of center above the belt. From the northern hemisphere , the three bright stars ( Alnitak , Alnilam and Mintaka) in a straight line that form Orion 's Belt are easily visible on the southern horizon in winter evenings. The bright star that forms Orion 's left shoulder is Betelgeuse . The three stars of the belt - Zeta, Epsilon and Delta Orionis - are called Alnitak , Alnilam and Mintaka. The names Alnitak and Mintaka both come from the Arabic word meaning ‘the belt' or ‘girdle'.

Betelgeuse 640 light year s, Bellatrix 243 lys, Alnitak 826 lys, Alnilam 1360 lys, Mintaka 919 lys, Saiph 724 lys, Rigel 775 lys. I'm sure that they will keep revising these for some time to come, but Alnilam (which is the center star in Orion 's Belt) is apparently the badass of the Orion constellation . The 3 bright stars in the constellation 's middle represent Orion 's sword belt, namely Alnilam , Mintaka and Alnitak . The equator of the sky passes close to the upper star of his belt, so that half of Orion is in the Northern hemisphere , and the other half is in the southern hemisphere . Orion 's Sword ... And then as you look at the individual stars, you start being able to pick up things such as Mintaka, which is Delta Orionis , which is upper right-hand if you're in the Northern Hemisphere belt star ; lower left-hand Orion 's-hanging-upside-down belt star if you're in the Southern Hemisphere .

M78 is a bright reflection nebula located close to the celestial equator , and about four degrees east of Mintaka ( Delta Orionis ), the westernmost star in Orion 's belt. Like all reflection nebulae , M78 is seen because it scatters light from another source, usually nearby stars . The three stars forming Orion 's belt are [5977] delta , [5974] epsilon and [5975] zeta Orionis . [5977] delta Orionis or Mintaka ("region") is an eclipsing binary variable star system that consists of a large blue giant and an O-type white star . It is approximately 900 light-year s distant. Named stars: Alpha Ori (Beteigeuze/ Betelgeuse ), Beta Ori ( Rigel ), Gamma Ori ( Bellatrix ), Delta Ori (Mintaka), Epsilon Ori ( Alnilam ), Zeta Ori ( Alnitak ) Info: Pavo ( Peacock ) ...

Main named stars in Orion : (Greek alphabet) Alnilam (& epsilon ; Ori), Alnitak (ζ Ori), Bellatrix (γ Ori), Betelgeuse (α Ori), Meissa (λ Ori), Mintaka (& delta ; Ori), Nair al Saif (ι Ori), Rigel (β Ori), Saiph (κ Ori). Orion , also known as "The Hunter," is a constellation in the Northern Hemisphere . Connect the dots and see if you can imagine a hunter shooting a bow and arrow . The three stars, Alnitak , Anilam, and Mintaka, form Orion 's belt. Anne’s Image of the Day: Orion’s Belt | Anne’s Astronomy News Anne’s Image of the Day: Orion’s Belt Orion’s Belt, an asterism in Orion Image Credit: Digitized Sky Survey, ESA/ESO/NASA FITS Liberator Color Composite: Davide De Martin ( Skyfactory ) Orion’s Belt or the Belt of Orion is an asterism in the constellation of Orion (the Hunter).

It consists of the three bright white-blue stars (from east to west or from left to right) Alnitak, Alnilam and Mintaka, which are more or less evenly spaced in a straight line, and so can be visualized as the belt of the hunter’s clothing. An asterism is a pattern of stars in the night sky, in most cases composed of stars which are not physically related, and which are often located at significantly different distances from Earth. The constellation Orion is in the southwestern sky if you are in the Northern Hemisphere or the northwestern sky if you are in the Southern Hemisphere, and also includes the bright stars Hatsya, which establishes the tip of Orion’s sword that hangs off the belt, Meissa, which forms Orion’s head, Saiph, which serves as Orion’s right knee, Rigel which forms the hunter’s left knee, and Betelgeuse, which is one of the largest known red giants, which forms the armpit. Alnitak (also known as Zeta Orionis and 50 Orionis) is a triple star system at the eastern end of Orion’s belt, and is 736 light-years away from the Earth.

The bright star shines energetic ultraviolet light into the Flame Nebula, IC 434 and The Horsehead Nebula. It has 100,000 times the luminosity of our Sun. The primary (Alnitak A) is itself a close binary, comprising Alnitak Aa (a blue supergiant) and Alnitak Ab (a blue dwarf). Aa is estimated to be 20 times bigger than the Sun and up to 28 times as massive. Alnitak B is a 4th magnitude star which orbits Alnitak A every 1500 years. The fourth star, Alnitak C, has not been confirmed to be part of the Altinak-system, and may simply lie along the line of sight. Alnilam (also known as Epsilon Orionis and 46 Orionis) is the middle star and lies approximately 1340 light-years away from Earth. It shines with magnitude 1.70, and considering ultraviolet light Alnilam is 375,000 times more luminous than our Sun.

It is a blue-white supergiant star, and the 30th brightest star in the sky (the 4th brightest in Orion). This star is one of the 57 stars used in celestial navigation. Within the next million years, Alnilam may turn into a red supergiant and explode as a supernova. It is surrounded by a molecular cloud, NGC 1990, which it brightens to make a reflection nebula. Its stellar winds may reach up to 2000 kilometers per second, causing it to lose mass about 20 million times more rapidly than the Sun. Mintaka (also known as Delta Orionis and 34 Orionis) is a double star located 690 light-years away and which shines with magnitude 2.21. It is 90,000 times more luminous than the Sun with a mass of some 20 solar masses. The stars of this binary system orbit around each other every 5.73 days. The three stars that make up the belt of Orion are known by many names across many ancient and current cultures. Today they are known in Spain, Portugal and South America as “Las Tres Marías”.

In the Philippines and Puerto Rico they are called the Los Tres Reyes Magos. In England: Jacob’s Rod or Staff; Peter’s Staff; the Golden Yard-arm; the L, or Ell; the Ell and Yard; the Yard-stick, and more. The color image was composited from digitized black and white photographic plates recorded through red and blue astronomical filters, with a computer synthesized green channel. The plates were taken using the Samuel Oschin Telescope, a wide-field survey instrument at Palomar Observatory, between 1987 and 1991. Share this post

Question: How are the bright stars 'Alnitak', 'Alnilam' and 'Mintaka' known collectively?
Answer: 'ORION'S BELT'