An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics

The Hunter. A prominent constellation, one of the largest in the sky, located on the celestial equator around 5h 30m right ascension, 0° declination. This constellation is rich in bright stars and nebulae. The brightest star is Rigel (β Orionis), visual magnitude 0.2. The second brightest star is → Betelgeuse (α Orionis), magnitude between 0.2 and 1.0. A key feature of Orion’s constellation is his Belt of three bright stars that form a nearly straight line across its central parts. It contains also the → Orion Nebula,
the only region of massive star formation visible to the unaided eye.

Etymology (EN): In Gk. mythology, Orion was a giant hunter and the enemy of Artemis the huntress, who according to some tales was responsible for his death. Other stories, though, tell how he pursued the Pleiades and with them was turned into a constellation to chase them forever across the sky.

Etymology (PE): Šekârgar, “→ hunter.”