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what is the star just below orion's belt in the night sky.?

I'm in the USA in North Carolina and I see it mostly in the winter. It twinkles different colors...red, blue, white, yellow...and is very bright compared to the stars around it. It's colors are best seen closer to the horizon.

9 Answers

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  • 1 decade ago
    Favorite Answer

    Depends on what you mean by below. The bright star to the SSWis Rigel. The even brighter star to the SE (approximately in line with the belt stars) is Sirius. The colors are due to atmospheric refraction. The actual colors of the stars are blue-white for Rigel and white for Sirius.

  • ?
    Lv 4
    4 years ago

    Alot of peolple have this issue and it takes an prolonged time in the previous you may basically whip out the names of each and every action picture star and discover constellations. i might pass online or to a e book shop and get a action picture star chart, then you may regulate it so the date suits up with the time (it could have instructions). or you're able to pass to a community astronomical society (astronomy club) and that they're going to help you and have 'action picture star events' the place you pass out all night and basically check out the celebs. maximum folk could have telescopes that they are going to allow you utilize and a few could have reliable sufficient ones which you will discover deep area products. You fairly discover stars in line with different stars region. What I do is: first, i'm no longer able to actual discover the north action picture star, so i attempt to discover the super dipper (u.s. substantial) and then i come across the two stars that kind the far element of the dipper, then I make a line on the instant from it and additionally you will discover the north action picture star approximately 40 5-50% up. (I frequently can no longer discover it in any respect). you're able to get a telescope or binoculars and lookup, and in case you think of they are distinctive then you may well be incorrect. you're able to be able to be conscious shade adjustments and 'flickering'. a reliable occasion is interior the Orion Constellation. It feels like a hunter, the main recognizable area is 3 close stars togehter (Orions Belt). the splendid and down action picture star is Rigel, a youthful blue-white action picture star. And the up and left is Betelguse, an old crimson action picture star. wish this helped, digital mail me in case you have the different questions.

  • 8 years ago

    I know just what star you are talking about- It looks blue white to the naked eye and is brilliantly flashing the prismatic colors of the rainbow, but mostly blue red and white. I just confirmed that this is Sirius, the Dog Star, so named as one of Orioin's hunting hounds. It is visible in the autumn skies and through winter, at least here in Seattle. It visually is slightly left and well below the constellation Orion, or Southeast.

    It is the brightest star in the sky at magnitude -1.46. In reality it is two stars Sirius A and Sirius B..I just read that. On close observation with binoculars, it throws out flashes of light around it that light up what must be light years of sky around it. I theorized that if it is two stars which rapidly rotate around each other, this might account for such a brilliant display. I have had fun taking pics of it with my camera, zooming in on Sirius just a bit, then wiggling my camera. It makes a trail of colors that is amazing. When doing that, each star has a different color signature. Most are boring, but not Sirius! That is one psychedelic star!

    Source(s): Book 'Astronomy- A Definitive Guide to the Universe' by Duncan John 2006
  • eri
    Lv 7
    1 decade ago

    Rigel is to the bottom right of the belt, it's the bright blue-white foot of Orion. Betelguese is the top left shoulder; it's reddish and bright. Sirius is to the bottom left; it's the brightest star in the sky after the Sun.

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  • 1 decade ago

    That must be Rigel. The color changes are due to the effects of Earth's atmosphere. This website will show you a star map of the constellation Orion and Rigel's location ==>http://starryskies.com/articles/dln/12-95/decorion...

    Rigel is what's known as a blue-giant star and if you'll visit this website and scroll to the bottom of it you'll see its size compared to our own sun ==>http://www.co-intelligence.org/newsletter/comparis...

  • 1 decade ago

    The M42 Nebula is below Orion's belt--it is not a star, but a nebula.

    Rigel, one of the brightest stars in the sky, is below Orion's belt, a little further down.

  • 1 decade ago

    Sounds like you are looking at the Orion Nebula which is a giant cloud of gas and dust where stars is forming. Take a look at it through binoculars if you have them, and you'll definitely be able to tell if it's the nebula or not.

  • 1 decade ago

    Some call it - the sword of the hunter

    and some call it - Orion's sword.

    Or what the other guy said

  • ?
    Lv 4
    5 years ago

    It depends..

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