How to View Orion

Locate Orion after printing a free star chart. The constellation is best viewed in the winter when it is at its highest and brightest. If you are having difficulty finding it, you are probably underestimating it's size. Think bigger and it stands out almost immediately. Picture a warrior point his arrow into the night.

Look at the star that on Orion's left shoulder. Use your chart to help you. This star is called Betelgeuse. It is pronounced just like Beetle Juice but this star was not directed by Tim Burton. Betelgeuse spews red hues because it is a red giant; a star like our sun that is meeting its death.

View the star that makes Orion's right foot. This star, named Rigel, is one of the brightest in the sky. Scientists predict that one day, this massive star will devour everything around it when it becomes a black hole.

Aim a pair of binoculars at the tip of Orion's sword. Fortunately, Orion is one of the few constellations that actually looks like what it's supposed to be. He is a hunter out to get Taurus, the bull. His sword dangles off his belt on the left side as he aims his arrow at his prey.

Look for the Orion Nebula. This is Messier object number 42. It is also called the Great Nebula. It should be visible almost immediately if you are aiming at the base of the sword. This nebula is the birth place of many stars.