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Orion (constellation)
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<p>Orion is a prominent set of stars visible during winter in the <a href="/facts/Northern_celestial_hemisphere/ao3Xwp5G">northern celestial hemisphere</a>. It is one of the <a href="/facts/IAU_designated_constellations/8BtL6SRA">88 modern constellations</a>; it was among the 48 constellations listed by the 2nd-century astronomer <a href="/facts/Ptolemy/htudGQTQ">Ptolemy</a>. It is named after <a href="/facts/Orion_(mythology)/eekDxh9u">a hunter in Greek mythology</a>. </p><p>Orion is most prominent during winter evenings in the <a href="/facts/Northern_Hemisphere/EFwyqL25">Northern Hemisphere</a>, as are five other constellations that have stars in the <a href="/facts/Winter_Hexagon/Ve7Rmvj0">Winter Hexagon</a> <a href="/facts/Asterism_(astronomy)/CFu0Qllg">asterism</a>. Orion's two brightest stars, <a href="/facts/Rigel/WeeIXAAv">Rigel</a> (β) and <a href="/facts/Betelgeuse/BsD9Ap7C">Betelgeuse</a> (α), are both among the <a href="/facts/List_of_brightest_stars/0vDnLEYM">brightest stars</a> in the night sky; both are <a href="/facts/Supergiant/y7w8WEcm">supergiants</a> and slightly <a href="/facts/Variable_star/Ac8mp2gy">variable</a>. There are a further six stars brighter than magnitude 3.0, including three making the short straight line of the <a href="/facts/Orion%2527s_Belt/LDYvIgaJ">Orion's Belt</a> <a href="/facts/Asterism_(astronomy)/CFu0Qllg">asterism</a>. Orion also hosts the <a href="/facts/Radiant_(meteor_shower)/sjhcP5WD">radiant</a> of the annual <a href="/facts/Orionids/CIlNmQDB">Orionids</a>, the strongest <a href="/facts/Meteor_shower/ff47hYJA">meteor shower</a> associated with <a href="/facts/Halley%2527s_Comet/DQongwTQ">Halley's Comet</a>, and the <a href="/facts/Orion_Nebula/6VWbcqzL">Orion Nebula</a>, one of the brightest <a href="/facts/Nebula/hG6coklY">nebulae</a> in the sky. </p>