896 



Handbook of Nature-Study 



Orion, the three large 

 star sin a line form- 

 ing the belt, the 

 curved line of small- 

 er stars below form- 

 ing the sword, Betel- 

 geuse above, Rigel 

 below. 



see the splendid red star Betelgeuse (bet-el- ger z) , and 

 below the belt, at about an equal distance, is the white 

 star Rigel (re-jel). West of the red star above, and east 

 of the white star below, are two fainter stars, and if 

 these four stars are connected by lines, an irregular four- 

 sided figure results, which includes the belt and the 

 sword. In this constellation the ancients saw Orion, the 

 great hunter, with his belt and his sword ; Betelgeuse was 

 set like a glowing ruby on his shoulder, and the white 

 star Rigel was set like a spur on his heel. Thus, stood 

 the great hunter in the sky, with his club raised to keep 

 off the plunging bull whose eye is the red Aldebaran 

 (al-deb 1 'a-ran) . And beyond him follows the Great Dog 

 with the bright blue star Sinus (sir'i-us] in his mouth, 

 and the Little Dog branded by the white star Procyon 

 (pro'si-on). However, our New England ancestors did 

 not see this grand figure in the sky ; they called the con- 

 stellation the Yard-ell or the Ell-yard. 



The three beautiful stars which make Orion's belt 

 are all double stars; the belt is just three degrees 

 long and is a good unit for sky measurement. The sword is not 

 merely the three stars which we ordinarily see, but is really a curved 

 line of five stars; and what seems to be the third star from the tip 

 of the sword and which looks hazy, is in fact a great nebula. Through the 

 telescope this nebula seems a splash of light with six beautiful stars within 

 it. Betelgeuse is a brilliant red star, and is the first star in the constellation 

 to appear above the horizon. It is an old, old star and is growing cold, as is 

 shown by its red glow. It glows redder sometimes than at others; it is so 

 far away that we have not been able to measure its distance from us surely, 

 and it is receding from us all the time. About fifteen minutes after Betel- 

 geuse rises, and after the belt and sword are in sight, a white sparkling star 

 appears at the southwest of the belt. This is Rigel, and this star, too, is so 

 far from us that we do not know the distance, and it is also receding. 



LESSON CCXXVII 

 ORION 



Leading thought Orion is one of the most beautiful constellations in the 

 heavens. It is especially marked by the three stars which form Orion's 

 belt, and the line of stars below the belt which form the sword. 



Method Place 011 the blackboard the outline of Orion as given in the 

 diagram. Ask the pupils to make the following observations in the even- 

 ing and give their report the next day. 



Observations i. Where is Orion in relation to the Pole-star? 



2. How many stars in the belt of Orion"" How many stars in the 

 sword ? Can you see plainly the third star from the bottom of the sword ? 



3. Notice above the belt, about three times its length, a bright star; 

 this is Betelgeuse. What is the color of this star? What do we know 

 about the age of a star if it is red ? 



4. Look below the belt and observe another bright star at about the 

 same distance below that Betelgeuse is above. What is the color of this 

 star? What does its color signify ? The name of this star is Rigel. 



