What is the identification of Rigel ($eta$ Ori) in the outline of the celestial hunter Orion?
Answer
The bright blue supergiant marking his left foot
Rigel is one of the most luminous stars in the entire night sky and serves as a crucial marker in defining the lower portion of the Orion figure. It is consistently identified as the star located at Orion's left foot, although some older depictions might place it near the knee area. Rigel is distinctively characterized as a blue supergiant, contrasting with the reddish hue of Betelgeuse, which marks the opposite shoulder. This bright stellar marker helps establish the vertical extent of the celestial giant.
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Bright Stars of Orion - Betelgeuse, Rigel, Bellatrix, Belt Stars
Related Questions
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