constellation Orion - one of the most beautiful in the night sky.To many it is familiar from childhood: it is hard to ignore, as the most visible stars and celestial objects in the constellation Orion are visible from Earth with the naked eye.These include lights, on a number of parameters exceeding the sun and the beautiful Great Nebula M42.Two bright stars in the constellation Orion, Rigel and Betelgeuse, very easy to find in the sky.They facilitate the detection of the remaining elements of the constellation.
Description
Orion - the ancient mythical character, a skilled hunter, companion and lover Artemis.Legends and myths about Orion say that it appeared in the sky at will disconsolate goddess who killed the hunter as a result of his cunning jealous brother Apollo.Artemis vowed to always remember the beloved and put him into heaven.
The arrangement of the elements is easy to guess the silhouette of a hunter.He stood in the sky with a raised club, a sword belt and shield in hand.Details of the constellation are known asterism.Sheaf forms a characteristic shape.Orion's belt is composed of three highly visible stars, located on the same line.Just below it is located asterism Orion Sword comprising two stars and blurry spot between the nebula M42.Belt of the southeast end of the line indicates the Sirius and the north-west - on Aldebaran.
impressive each brightest star in the constellation Orion.Constellation surrounding it, losing the beauty of it is because of the lack of such a large number of impressive elements of its luminosity.
The palm
Amid all this splendor stands out a couple of giants.The historical name of the two brightest stars in the constellation Orion - Rigel and Betelgeuse.Their scientific notation - Beta and Alpha Orionis, respectively.Both giant, as already mentioned, are clearly visible from Earth.We can say that they compete for the title of the first stars in the celestial figure.Betelgeuse is referred to as the Alpha, but somewhat brighter Rigel.
name of two bright stars in the constellation Orion is of Arabic origin.Rigel means "foot", and Betelgeuse - "armpit".The names of the stars, so give a rough understanding of where the lights.Alpha Orion located on the right armpit of the hunter, and Beta - on his leg.
red supergiant
Betelgeuse in many ways can be considered the most significant luminary in Orion.This is a red supergiant, referring to the semiregular variable stars: its luster varies from 0.2 to 1.2 magnitude.This lower limit is higher than the luminosity of the sun setting at eighty thousand times.The separation distance of the star and the Earth is estimated at an average of 570 light-years (the exact value of the parameter is unknown).
Betelgeuse The scale can be realized by comparing them with the sizes of the orbits of the planets of the solar system.The minimum size of the stars, if you place it on the site of our star, would cover all the space to the orbit of Mars.Maximum - would correspond to the orbit of Jupiter.Weight Betelgeuse more solar in the 13-17 times.
The study
Alpha Orionis on volume of 300 million times greater than the sun.Exact its diameter is difficult to measure, since the distance from the center of the star slowly decreases its brightness.It is believed that if the distance to Betelgeuse taken as 650 light-years, the value of its diameter ranges from 500 to 800 corresponding to the parameters of our star.
Betelgeuse - the first after the sun was shining for which Space Telescope were able to obtain an image of the disk.In the photo captured the atmosphere of the star with ultraviolet light spot in the center.Its size exceeds several tens of times the Earth's diameter.The temperature of this portion is much larger than the rest of the outer surface of the body.The origin of the spots still unknown.It is believed that it is the result of the impact on the atmosphere of the star of a new physical phenomenon.
Leg Orion
Rigel - the brightest star in the constellation Orion.Constellation Eridanus Hare and adjacent to the mythical image of the celestial hunter, often identified in the sky by their proximity to the deadbolt.Beta Orionis, thanks to its brightness, serves as a reference to observers.
Rigel - a blue-white supergiant, with a visual magnitude - 0.12.The distance from the Sun to the star is about 860 light-years.Radius Beta Orion gives the similar parameter of Betelgeuse.Thus Rigel luminosity greater than our stars, 130 thousand times.By this parameter it is ahead of Alpha Orionis.
like Betelgeuse, Rigel - variable star.It is characterized by irregular cycles change its value from 0.3 to 0.03 with a period of approximately 24 days.Rigel has traditionally been considered a triple star system.Sometimes, he is credited with the possession of the fourth component.However, clear evidence of its existence has not yet been received.
neighbor
With Beta Orionis is connected Witch Head Nebula.Its shape it is really very similar to the head witch in peaked hat.This reflection nebula, glowing through the neighborhood with Rigel.The pictures Witch Head has a bluish tinge, as particles of space dust in the composition of the nebula is to better reflect the blue light, and he himself Rigel in the blue part of the spectrum.
Evolution
Two bright stars in the constellation of Orion will be as always.Internal processes both sooner or later will lead to burn fuel and possibly explode - impressive dimensions do not contribute to long-term survival.However, at this age they accurately enough.According to forecasts of Betelgeuse would shine at least two thousand years.Then it waits for the collapse and explosion.At the same time it would be comparable to the brightness of the light half or even a full moon.In another scenario Betelgeuse "quietly" turn into a white dwarf.In any case, at the end of the process for the terrestrial observer shoulder of Orion extinguished.
Rigel also waiting for fate to shine in the sky for a short time, the explosion of enormous power.According to assumptions, his fury will be comparable to a quarter of the moon.
other light
Two bright stars in the constellation Orion - are not the only well-marked objects of this heavenly figure.Hunter Belt consists of three clearly visible from the land of light.It Mintaka (Delta Orionis), Alnitak (Zeta) and Alnilam (Epsilon).On the left shoulder of the hunter is Bellatrix (Gamma Orionis), the third brightest point in the constellation.Its solar luminosity exceeds 4 thousand times.Among the stars observable with the naked eye, Bellatrix allocated significant heating of the surface.Its temperature is estimated at 21 500ยบ C.
Nebula and black hole
Two bright stars in the constellation Orion is located just below the Belt and Sword are the hunter.It Theta and Iota Orionis.Between them swept a third object, which unknowingly can also be attributed to the number of stars.However, this is the Great Nebula of Orion, which seems to Earth a little blur.There are constantly emerging new star.Immediately presumably it is closest to the Earth black hole mass superior to the sun 100 times.
not less than M42, the famous and Nebula and Horsehead Torch, is also located in the constellation of Orion.First really looks like flames, billowing over the fire, for which he was named.The Horsehead Nebula is also a form justifies the name.The pictures clearly visible silhouette of a horse.It seems as if she is about to gallop on.Horsehead refers to the reflection nebula: by itself it does not emit light.It provides the opportunity to enjoy the employee background nebula IC 434. It illuminates the dark neighbor.
Numerous photographs telescopes often seen the constellation of Orion.Interesting objects: stars, nebulae, clouds of gas and cosmic dust - striking in their beauty in the photos.However, even with Earth silhouette hunter seems no less impressive.Such an abundance of bright and visible to the naked eye object is not typical, perhaps, for no more than celestial images.
wishes to see all the beauty that hides the mythical hunter can take advantage of the numerous resources on astronomy that investigate including the constellation Orion, "Astrogalaktika" sky map Google Sky, the service "Google Earth."
