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Credit & Copyright: Bill Dickinson
Explanation:
As spring comes to planet Earth's northern hemisphere, familiar winter
constellation Orion sets in early evening skies and budding trees
frame the Hunter's stars.
The yellowish hue of cool red supergiant
Alpha
Orionis,
the great star Betelgeuse, mingles with the branches at the top of
this
colorful skyscape.
Orion's alpha star is joined on the far right by
Alpha
Tauri.
Also known as Aldebaran and also a giant star cooler than the Sun,
it shines with a yellow light at the head of Taurus, the Bull.
Contrasting blue supergiant Rigel,
Beta
Orionis,
is Orion's other dominant star though, and marks
the Hunter's foot below center.
Of course, the sword of Orion hangs from the Hunter's three blue belt
stars near picture center, but the middle star in the sword is not a
star at all.
A slightly fuzzy pinkish glow hints at its true nature, a
nearby
stellar nursery
visible to the unaided eye known as
the Orion Nebula.
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NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings, and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris. Specific rights apply.
A service of: LHEA at NASA / GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
Based on Astronomy Picture
Of the Day
Publications with keywords: Orion - spring - Betelgeuse - Rigel - aldebaran
Publications with words: Orion - spring - Betelgeuse - Rigel - aldebaran
See also: