Orion is one of the most beloved constellations, known even to the most occasional stargazer. Located along the celestial equator, Orion is best seen in the evenings, during the Northern hemisphere’s winter and the Southern hemisphere’s summer.

Many ancient cultures from Babylon to China have names for the grouping of stars we know as Orion. The oldest depiction of Orion found to date is a 32,000-year-old carved mammoth tusk found in Germany. The name Orion comes from a hunter from Greek mythology.

But to see Orion in its true glory, you’ll need to look deeper with your eVscope. Here are some of the best stars and deep-sky objects to observe in Orion.

Stars in Orion

Image captured by Unistellar eVscope user Benoît Guinement (France)

Image of Alnitak with the Flame Nebula captured by Unistellar Ambassador David Rowe (United Kingdom)

Rigel: this blue supergiant, also called Beta Orionis, is the seventh-brightest star in the sky
Betelgeuse: a red supergiant, Betelgeuse may soon explode in a supernova
Bellatrix: a blue-white star whose name means “female warrior”
Alnilam: this blue supergiant is the middle star of Orion’s Belt
Alnitak: triple star system in Orion’s Belt, composed of a blue supergiant-subgiant binary and another star
Saiph: one of the four stars of Orion’s “body,” Saiph is a supergiant star
Mintaka: a multiple star system found in Orion’s Belt
Meissa: a giant star with several companions that forms Orion’s head

Deep-Sky Objects in Orion

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Orion Nebula

Also known as M42, the great Orion Nebula lies south of Orion’s Belt. This famous nebula is one of the brightest and most heavily studied nebulae in our night sky. With a telescope, you can see filaments of gas and dust, as well as the dense masses of star-forming regions within the nebula.

Running Man Nebula

This reflection nebula is part of a large complex of nebulae that makes up the northernmost part of Orion’s sword. Located near the Orion Nebula itself, the Running Man Nebula’s blue color comes from the reflected light of young, blue stars.

Image captured by eVscope user Marc Barbat (France)

We encourage you to share your observations and join the conversation through our Facebook, Instagram and Twitter pages using the hashtag #UnistellarChallenge!

If you’d like to send us your observations by email, send them to [email protected].

Clear skies! 🔭

Monkey Head Nebula

NGC 2174 is an emission nebula, which means it’s full of ionized gases that emit light. It resides 6,400 light-years away. Be sure to try and spot the “monkey’s head”!

IImage captured by Unistellar Ambassador Jacques Bérard (Canada)

Messier 78

M78 or NGC 2068 is the brightest diffuse reflection nebula in our night sky! Reflection nebulae scatter light from a nearby star or multiple stars. M78 is located some 1,350 light-years from Earth.

Image captured by Unistellar Ambassador Scott Kardel (USA)

Horsehead Nebula

This majestic nebula is one of the most famous nebulae in our night sky! Also known as Barnard 33, the Horsehead Nebula is a dark tower-like structure of gas and dust where stars are being born. Astronomer Williamina Fleming discovered it in 1888.

Flame Nebula

Also known as NGC 2024, the Flame Nebula is another emission nebula. It actually gets its colors thanks to Alnitak, one of the stars in Orion’s belt, whose UV light causes the nebula to glow brightly. Dark dust and gas are situated in front of the center of the nebula, giving it the appearance of a crackling fire.

Cosmic Bat Nebula

This ethereal nebula, also known as NGC 1788, is hidden within one of the darkest corners of the Orion constellation. At this nebula’s core lies a cluster of infant stars which are only about a million years old.

We encourage you to share your observations and join the conversation through our Facebook, Instagram and Twitter pages using the hashtag #UnistellarChallenge!

If you’d like to send us your observations by email, send them to [email protected].

Clear skies! 🔭