Orion's Sword

The Orion's Sword is an astronomical asterism in the constellation Orion. It comprises three stars (c, Theta, and Iota Orionis) under the prominent asterism, Orion's Belt. M42, the Orion Nebula is located in the center. It points in a southerly direction, and resembles distantly a sword.

Cicero[1] and Germanicus,[2] the translators of Aratus's Phaenomena, expressed it as ensis, Latin for "sword". Also, Arabic astronomers called it Saif al Jabbār, the Sword of the Giant. In China, It was called 伐, Punishment, and subordinated to Sieu of Shen （參）. In Japan, It is called Ko-mitsu-boshi （小三星）, “Little Three Stars”. In Finland, it is called Kalevanmiekka (Kaleva's sword).

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Allen, R. H. (1899) Star-Names and Their Meanings, G. E. Stechert, New York, p.316.
  2. ↑ Grotius, H. (1600) Syntagma Arateorum, Leyden.


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