Orion

Very prominent constellation in the equatorial region of the sky (see celestial sphere), identified with the hunter of Greek mythology.

The bright stars Alpha (Betelgeuse), Gamma (Bellatrix), Beta (Rigel), and Kappa Orionis mark the shoulders and legs of Orion. Between them the belt is formed by Delta, Epsilon, and Zeta, three second-magnitude stars equally spaced in a straight line. Beneath the belt is a line of fainter stars marking Orion's sword. One of these, Theta, is not really a star but the brightest part of the Orion nebula. Nearby is one of the most distinctive dark nebulae, the Horsehead.

Both Betelgeuse and Rigel are first-magnitude stars and are supergiants, but while Betelgeuse is red, Rigel, like most of the other bright stars in the Orion area, is blue-white.

The Orionid meteors, which appear 18–26 October, are associated with Halley's comet.

Orion

In Greek mythology, a giant of Boeotia, famed as a hunter. He is the subject of the earliest known star-myth; his transformation after death into the constellation Orion was mentioned by Homer

Orion was blinded by Dionysus, the god of wine and excess, for attempting to rape Princess Merope of Chios, daughter of Oenopion, but he recovered his sight by exposing his eyes to the sun. Aurora, goddess of the dawn, fell in love with him and abducted him to Delos where he was killed after offending the goddess Artemis over a discus contest, or alternatively attempting to seduce one of her companions or the goddess herself. According to some traditions a scorpion was sent by Artemis to sting him on the heel, and this creature was also set among the stars as Scorpius or Scorpio.

Orion

Town in Oakland County, southeastern Michigan, USA, near Lake Orion, 16 km/10 mi northeast of Pontiac; population (1990) 24,100. A General Motors assembly plant is situated in this suburban township.