Orion has been recognized as distinct group of stars for thousands of years. The Chaldeans knew it as Tammuz, named after the month that the familiar belt of stars first rose before sunrise. The Syrians called it Al Jabbar, the Giant. To the ancient Egyptians it was Sahu, the soul of Osiris. However in Greek mythology, Orion was a beautiful giant hunter.

There are many legends about Orion and several variations about his death and why he was placed in the stars. One story tells of his boast that he would eventually rid the earth of all its wild animals. When the Earth goddess Gea heard of this she became upset and sent a Giant Scorpion to sting him to death. Now even after death that scorpion chases him around the sky. If you notice scorpio and Orion are never in the sky together.

Another story says that Artemis the goddess of hunting fell in love with Orion. And when Orion was swimming Artemis was speaking to her brother Apollo. He bet her that she could not shoot a dot on the distance. She hit the target right on but had been tricked. She had shoot Orion. She put her love, Orion in the sky.

And yet another tells how Orion raped Artemis. And she took her revenge upon him, when she shot him. Now seeing as there are several variations of his death you would have to choose which one you like best and go with it.

There are two stars that are well know in the constalation of Orion. The first one is know as Betelgeuse, also called Alpha Orinis. It is one of the brightest stars in the constelation of Orion. It is an irregular because it changes brightness and size but has no regular periods of veration. It is classified as a red supergiant and it is 600 times the size of the sun.

The other star to be Mentioned is Rigel also known as Beta Orionis. It is the Brightest star in the constelation and the seventh brightest star in the heavens. The Location of both stars can be seen on the picture of Orion.