- Pleiades and Orion - The "Stars" of the Winter Sky by David Rives

The Pleiades - The Seven Sisters

Here in the Northern hemisphere, it's winter time. This always means that the star cluster Pleiades and the constellation Orion will be occupying our night sky in all their glory. They are also two of the easiest star formations for anyone to see.

Located within the constellation Taurus we find perhaps the most notable open star cluster in the night sky. The Pleiades.

Lying within the plane of our own galaxy, the Pleiades contains over 500 stars. As one of the closest open clusters, only about 400 light years away, it is easily visible with the naked eye, appearing as a tight cluster of 6 or 7 stars

Surrounding the bright stars, a reflection nebula creates a beautiful blue glow, when viewed through a telescope.

More information on the Pleiades - External Link...

In ancient times, the central stars were known as the seven sisters or the daughters of Zeus, who in Greek mythology were pursued by the nearby constellation Orion. The Constellation Orion was known by the Syrians as Al Jabar - or the Giant - and by the Chaldeans as Tammuz. In the Book of Ezekiel the pagan god Tammuz is mentioned in reference to the idolatry which Israel had fallen into.

Through the imaginations of men, the celestial handiwork of the Creator had come to be worshipped more than the Creator Himself.

As the belt stars of the Constellation Orion rose above the horizon just before sunrise in the morning sky, the Chaldeans began their month of Tammuz. Today, Tammuz is the 4th month of the Jewish calendar.

Betelgeuse and Rigel are the most prominent stars in the constellation Orion.

Betelgeuse, the 9th brightest star in the sky is a red supergiant. As one of the largest known stars, Betelgeuse is truly a giant - 14 times more massive than our sun and 800 times its diameter. If placed in the center of our solar system the outer surface of Betelgeuse would extend almost to the orbit of Jupiter - engulfing Mercury, Venus, Mars and the Earth.

Marking the heel of Orion we find the blue white star Rigel, the 7th brightest star in the sky. Some 1400 light years away Rigel is 50,000 times brighter than our sun.

More information on Orion - External Link...

Within the Constellation Orion lies the most notable nebula in the sky - The Great Orion Nebula.

The Orion Nebula as seen by the Mobile Observatory Telescope

Under dark skies the nebula can be seen with the naked eye as a bright glow near the central star of Orion's sword. The bright central core stars of the nebula are known as the trapezium from which magnificent clouds of gas spread out for some 15 light years in every direction.

By way of powerful telescopes the nearby Horsehead Nebula is seen within the Constellation Orion.

Horsehead Nebula

Contrast provided by hydrogen alpha optical filters reveals the horse head shaped dust cloud which blocks the red glow of the hydrogen gas nebula 

Today, time lapse photos reveal the intricate details of the magnificent Orion and Horsehead nebulas.

Truly, the heavens declare the Glory of God.

David Rives

About the Author David Rives is dedicated to spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ through Biblically based astronomy. He lectures nationally on the majesty of our Creator, and how the "Heavens Declare the Glory of God".

Copyright © 2008 David Rives Ministries