ABSTRACT
Orion contains the most famous of all the bright nebulæ - M42, in the Hunter’s Sword. It is a stellar birthplace, inside which fresh stars are being produced. M42 is illuminated by the multiple star Theta Orionis which lies on the nearside edge of the nebula; Theta is nicknamed the Trapezium, because of the arrangement of its four principal components. Monoceros, the Unicorn, lies on the opposite side of Orion, occupying most of the large triangle formed by Betelgeux in Orion, Procyon in Canis Minor and Sirius in Canis Major. Though lettered Beta, Rigel is the brightest star in Orion, and is usually several tenths of a magnitude superior to Alpha. Rigel is a true cosmical searchlight, at least 60,000 times more luminous than the Sun, and around 900 light-years away.
