The Constellation of Orion
By Augusta W. Heald
One of the Most Interesting and Brilliant Groups of the Skies — Some of Its Neighbors
THE winter and early spring skies are surpassingly brilliant, with the great constellation Orion, and the stars that surround it as a body-guard to the "mighty hunter." Giant Sirius, the dog-star, in the constellation of the Great Dog, shines forth in regal splendor. This, the brightest of all the stars, is fifty trillion miles from the earth. Its gleams of diamond light, which sparkle and scintillate before our admiring gaze, have been more than eight years traveling the immense space which separates us from that far-off sun. Northeast of Sirius is beautiful Procyon, of Canis Minor, the Lesser Dog. Procyon may be identified by its attendant, a much smaller star some five degrees above it. North of Canis Minor we find Castor and Pollux, the fabulous twins of the constellation Gemini. Northwest from these is the beautiful first magnitude star the milk-white Capella, in the constellation Auriga. Capella, "the goat," is recognized by three small stars quite near, forming a slender triangle. These stars represent the mythological "kids," which Capella is supposed to nourish. Looking southwest, we find ruddy Aldebaran, the most beautiful star in Taurus. Further south is Rigel, in the left foot of Orion, and we come again to Sirius. Orion is the largest and most glorious constellation in the heavens. "When on the meridian, . . . it is visible to all the habitable world, because the equinoctial passes through the middle of the constellation. It has seventy-eight visible stars. Betelguese in the right shoulder and Rigel in the left foot of Orion are very brilliant stars, brighter even than first magnitude. Bellatrix in the left shoulder is bright, but not as large. These three, with a smaller star, form a large parallelogram, which is intersected about midway by a line of three beautiful stars of the second magnitude, uniform in size and brightness, called the 'Belt of Orion,' the 'Three Stars,' or the 'Ell and Yard.'" The three stars in Orion's belt form a straight line, three degrees in length, divided by the central star into two equal parts. They thus form a scale, or measuring rod, by which may be calculated the comparative distances of the heavenly bodies from one another. Below the belt hangs the sword, a short row of stars of fourth or fifth magnitude. The middle one of these stars is surrounded by a misty light from the great nebula of Orion, the most wonderful object in the firmament. This nebula marks the locality of the "open space in Orion." More than fifty years ago, we were told that when our Lord shall come to gather His dear people, He will appear through the open space in Orion. For many years, little seemed to be known of this "open space"; but said the prophet Daniel, in "the time of the end . . . knowledge shall be increased." Dan. 12:4. The photographic plates of the Mount Wilson Observatory have revealed to the eye of man a colossal "cavern in the nebula of Orion, the gigantic opening of a starry corridor leading into inconceivable depths." Is there not a special significance in the fact that Orion's Belt, the Ell and Yard, the measuring rod for stellar distances, is placed in such nearness to that glorious portal which leads up to God and His throne? To the writer, it is suggestive of God's perfect law, the measuring reed of the prophets, the standard by which God will judge His people. "Here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus." Rev. 14:12. "Blessed are they that do His commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city." Rev. 22:14. "Orion's starry belt" is, in its symmetry and gem-like beauty, the most perfect group in the heavens. "The law of the Lord is perfect, restoring the soul." Ps. 19:7, margin. While we, in faith, await the restoring, life-giving touch which shall fit us for translation through the star-gemmed entrance to the realms of glory, let us most earnestly heed the sublime pleadings of the pastoral prophet of Judah's hills, "Seek Him that maketh the seven stars and Orion, and turneth the shadow of death into the morning." Amos 5:8.