Use Orion’s Belt to Find Sirius Easily This Month
As a child, my mother taught me to distinguish between Orion and Ursa Major in the night sky. As an adult, these are still the only two constellations that I can find on my own. If you’re in a similar position but want to expand your constellation repertoire, you’ll have a better chance of doing so before the end of September, during which time you can use Orion’s belt as a way to find Sirius, the brightest star in the world. sky and part of the constellation Canis Major . Here’s how to find it.
Use Orion to find Sirius and Big Dog
First things first: find Orion. One of the constellation’s most distinctive features is a short, straight line of relatively bright stars that form a hunter’s belt. If directions help you , it is from the south to the southeastern part of the sky.
Here’s what to do next, according to EarthSky’s Deborah Bird :
Just draw a line through Orion’s Belt and extend that line towards the horizon. You will easily spot Sirius, the brightest star in the sky.
Sirius is located in the constellation Canis Major, Canis Major. He is often referred to as the Dog Star.
She goes on to explain that although Venus and Jupiter are both brighter than Sirius, “you simply cannot mistake any planet for Sirius in the September morning sky.” This is because Venus is currently not visible due to sunlight, and Jupiter sets earlier than Sirius rises.
The best way to detect Sirius by this method is in the predawn morning sky before the end of September. In the coming months, Sirius will appear in the evening sky instead. For now, using Orion’s belt is an easy way to find Sirius and, in turn, the constellation Canis Major.