Become an expert stargazer—in one week
National Geographic's Wonder Lessons will teach you how to navigate the stars, spot cloud types, recognize common trees, and identify different kinds of rocks. Today, we're learning how to spot the constellation of Orion.
The easiest way to find Orion, known as the Hunter, is to search for the constellation’s three-dot belt.
This trio of stars appears almost perfectly aligned in the night sky. The stars Alnitak, Alnilam, and Mintaka form the belt dots. From late fall to early spring, Orion’s waist is one of the most recognizable sights in the sky during the transition from dusk to night.
We’ll look for Orion in the southwestern sky, where it’s most visible an hour or two after the sun sets.
Look for this constellation before Earth’s orbit makes it difficult to spot. By May these stars will be very low on the horizon and difficult to view by the time the sun sets. Beginning in late July and early August, Orion will become visible just before sunrise.
Want to experience more wonder? National Geographic's Wonder List features playful prompts and activities that turn everyday moments into wonder-filled discoveries—for families, anywhere, every day.
Sources: Tycho Catalog Skymap, NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center Scientific Visualization Studio
