Orion and the Great Hunt

November is here, and I'm about to get astronomical on you!

Let's say you received a new pair of binoculars for your recent birthday. No doubt you're anxious to use them to survey earthbound scenes, but especially grand celestial vistas after sundown.

Well, get ready for Orion and company!  Make your plans now!

The king of the winter skies: Orion.

Fact is, most people recognize the constellation we sometimes called the Great Hunter. He's one of my favorites; likely one of yours, too.

At this time of year, the big guy starts to rise around 11 p.m. local time, club in hand as he chases his nocturnal prey. But as winter draws nigh, Orion will become visible earlier and earlier, soon to dominate the nighttime sky.

So let's use our imagination to help find some of his neighbors who are grand sights in your binoculars (whether they're brand new or not).

Take a look at Orion's belt, those three stars aligned across his middle. They're named, from left to right, Alnitak, Alnilam and Mintaka.

Imagine you're drawing a line through the sky starting at Alnitak. Take your line to the upper right, moving out of Orion. And with “bullish” determination, so to speak, you will arrive in the constellation Taurus with several spectacles you'll enjoy.

First, that brighter star is Aldebaran, a pretty binocular sight in its own right. But Aldebaran sits among an open cluster called the Hyades, hundreds of sparkling diamonds in the sky. Don't rush off too quickly; take some time to enjoy this glorious scene!

When it's time to move on, continue your line away from Orion and the Hyades, and you'll arrive at the Pleiades , sometimes called the Seven Sisters. Stunning! Easily visible to the unaided eye. You'll see several, if not seven, brighter components of this cluster, but a binocular view easily could overwhelm your senses! How beautiful! Certainly, your nighttime air might be chilly, so bundle up and enjoy the Pleiades!

The Pleiades

I recommend music to accompany you on your expedition – Skywatching is a perfect companion!

When you've regained your earthly senses, lower your binoculars and return to Orion. Look at his belt again and focus on a bright patch right below in what makes up his sword. It's the great Orion Nebula!

Few panoramas can equal this fabulous nebula, also known as M42 and visible to the naked eye, even in earthly areas consumed by light pollution. It is a vast collection of dust, gas and very young stars!

Through your binoculars, you will be stunned at what you can see. In my humble opinion, this is one object in space that is more mesmerizing as seen with the human eyes than in any photo. Don't just look and look away – spend some time surveying this stunning scene!

Now, let's take your imaginary line in the belt stars and head in the other direction, this time to the lower left.

And oh my! What is that dazzling bright star?

It's time to get Sirius!

Sirius is the brightest star in Earth's night sky, primarily because it is relatively close to us at “only” 8.6 light-years. Still only a point of light in a binocular view, it nonetheless is stunning! You will be captivated by the beauty of the Dog Star.

Below Sirius is a very nice gathering called M41, a lovely open star cluster. While it may not be evident at first glance, you'll appreciate it once you've found it.

By the way, the red planet Mars is visible on these star charts. Look for its ruddy color that's so evident in your binoculars. Keep in mind that Mars is brilliant as I write this in November, 2022, but its location and brightness will change. Planets tend to do that! So if you look at this area of the sky in, say, late February, Mars will not be in the same location. Don't forget the Moon will pay a monthly visit to this area, too.

There's much more to this area of the night sky, but this will get you started. Plan now to make repeated sojourns across this elysian field! For a complete companion book, consider Nightwatch by Terence Dickinson. The top magazine source? Nothing beats Sky & Telescope!

Get ready to start your own hunt! You won't be sorry!