Today's Image

Watching Orion

Posted by
Deborah Byrd
and
November 9, 2016
Photo taken October 28, 2016 by Grant Miller.
Photo taken October 28, 2016 by Grant Miller.

Grant Miller in Milford, Delaware captured a part of the sky that’s familiar to many and coming into better view for evening observers. It’s the constellation Orion the Hunter, with its three bright Belt stars pointing upward toward a prominent V of stars – an asterism or star pattern called the Hyades, representing the Face of the Bull in the constellation Taurus. The reddish star Aldebaran is the brightest star in the V and marks the Bull’s fiery Eye. Grant wrote:

The Orion constellation is one of my favorites to photograph because it really stands out in the night sky. I took the photo during the Orionid meteor shower.

Want a chart showing some of the stars and constellations in Grant’s photo? Look below.

The orientation of Orion and Aldebaran - the Bull's Eye - are a bit different here than in Grant Miller's photo above. But, no matter how they are oriented, the 3 Belt stars of Orion always point toward Aldebaran.
The orientation of Orion and Aldebaran – the Bull’s Eye – are a bit different here than in Grant Miller’s photo above. But, no matter how they are oriented, the 3 Belt stars of Orion always point toward Aldebaran.

Bottom line: Photo of constellation Orion, by Grant Miller.

Posted 
November 9, 2016
 in 
Today's Image

Deborah Byrd

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About the Author:
Deborah Byrd created the EarthSky radio series in 1991 and founded EarthSky.org in 1994. Prior to that, she had worked for the University of Texas McDonald Observatory since 1976, and created and produced their Star Date radio series. Today, she serves as Editor-in-Chief of this website. She has won a galaxy of awards from the broadcasting and science communities, including having an asteroid named 3505 Byrd in her honor. In 2020, she won the Education Prize from the American Astronomical Society, the largest organization of professional astronomers in North America. A science communicator and educator since 1976, Byrd believes in science as a force for good in the world and a vital tool for the 21st century. "Being an EarthSky editor is like hosting a big global party for cool nature-lovers," she says.

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