Friday, November 17, 2006
Winter Sky II
“[The LORD] determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name.” (Psalm 147:4)
We probably do not call the stars by the same name as God, however, over time various stars have been given specific names.
Looking back at the picture on the previous post, we can become familiar with the stars of Orion.
The three bright blue stars make up Orion’s belt. The farthest left star has become known as Alnitak. Alnitak means belt in Arabic. Alnitak is actually a triple star system; that means, three stars rotate in some pattern around each other. They appear as one star to us here on Earth. The largest of the three stars is about 15 times the diameter of the Sun.
The middle star in Orion’s belt is named Alnilam, meaning string of pearls in Arabic. Current measurements predict that Alnilam is about 30 times the diameter of the Sun.
The last star in Orion’s belt is named Mintaka, also meaning belt in Arabic. Mintaka could actually be a four star system. It appears that two of the stars in the set are rotating around each other very closely.
The star that commonly represents Orion’s raised left hand is named Bellatrix, Latin for Amazon. Its diameter is only 6 times the size of the Sun. Bellatrix appears to be the same size as Alnitak, Alnilam, and Mintaka. However, it is much closer than the stars of the belt.
The right foot of Orion is named Saiph. Saiph probably has a diameter 11 times the diameter of the Sun.
The red star around Orion’s head is named Betelgeuse. Betelgeuse is a massive star. Jupiter’s orbit would be within this large star.
Finally, the star at Orion’s left foot is named Rigel, which is a contraction of the Arabic for left foot of the Central One. Like Mintaka, it is believed that Rigel is a four star system.
We probably do not call the stars by the same name as God, however, over time various stars have been given specific names.
Looking back at the picture on the previous post, we can become familiar with the stars of Orion.
The three bright blue stars make up Orion’s belt. The farthest left star has become known as Alnitak. Alnitak means belt in Arabic. Alnitak is actually a triple star system; that means, three stars rotate in some pattern around each other. They appear as one star to us here on Earth. The largest of the three stars is about 15 times the diameter of the Sun.
The middle star in Orion’s belt is named Alnilam, meaning string of pearls in Arabic. Current measurements predict that Alnilam is about 30 times the diameter of the Sun.
The last star in Orion’s belt is named Mintaka, also meaning belt in Arabic. Mintaka could actually be a four star system. It appears that two of the stars in the set are rotating around each other very closely.
The star that commonly represents Orion’s raised left hand is named Bellatrix, Latin for Amazon. Its diameter is only 6 times the size of the Sun. Bellatrix appears to be the same size as Alnitak, Alnilam, and Mintaka. However, it is much closer than the stars of the belt.
The right foot of Orion is named Saiph. Saiph probably has a diameter 11 times the diameter of the Sun.
The red star around Orion’s head is named Betelgeuse. Betelgeuse is a massive star. Jupiter’s orbit would be within this large star.
Finally, the star at Orion’s left foot is named Rigel, which is a contraction of the Arabic for left foot of the Central One. Like Mintaka, it is believed that Rigel is a four star system.
# posted by Wesley Son of Cornelius @ 10:09 PM 
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The sword in its sheith is actually the most interesting part of Orion. It is full of various galaxies and star clusters. It also contains the famous Horsehead Nebula and Flame Nebula. This region of outer space is probably studied the most. Some scientists believe they have discovered solar systems in this region. Fascinating region!
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