Orion
Brightest star: Rigel
Orion is one of the most recognizable constellations in the night sky, marked by its famous "belt" of three aligned stars (Alnitak, Alnilam, Mintaka). Rigel, the brightest, is a blue supergiant 120,000 times more luminous than the Sun. Betelgeuse, its orange-red rival, is an unstable supergiant expected to go supernova within the next 100,000 years.
When to see it
Visible in the Northern Hemisphere November–April, peaks in January.
Mythology
In Greek myth, Orion is a giant hunter, son of Poseidon. Renowned for his beauty and strength, he was killed by a scorpion sent by Gaia to punish his arrogance. Zeus placed him among the stars opposite Scorpius, so the two never cross the sky together — when one rises, the other sets.
Gift idea
A star map featuring the Orion constellation is the quintessential winter gift, or for anyone born in January/February under this spectacular sky. Rigel, Betelgeuse, and Orion's Belt stand out with maximum clarity on a premium print.