Orion constellation: how to find it, when to see it and what is in it
In short
The most recognisable winter constellation: three belt stars in a row, red Betelgeuse at the shoulder and blue-white Rigel at the foot. Orion sits on the celestial equator, so it is seen from both hemispheres. In the northern winter it stands in the south in the evening from November to March; in October it rises in the east after midnight, and in summer it is hidden behind the Sun. Below the belt hangs the sword with the Orion Nebula, M42, visible to the naked eye from a dark site.
Area: 594 square degrees, 26 of 88 · Neighbours: Eridanus, Gemini, Lepus, Monoceros, Taurus · Updated 10 October 2026
How to find Orion
- 1
Look for three stars in a row
On winter evenings in the south, in October after midnight in the east. Three equal stars close together on a slanting line — that is the belt.
- 2
Find the shoulders and feet
Above the belt are reddish Betelgeuse and white Bellatrix, below it brilliant Rigel and Saiph. Together they make a rectangle with the belt in the middle.
- 3
Follow the belt
Extend the belt down and to the left to reach Sirius, the brightest star in the sky; up and to the right it points to Aldebaran and the Pleiades.
When it is visible over London
| Month | Where and when | Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| January | in the south, around 21:56 | around midnight |
| February | in the south, around 19:44 | in the evening |
| March | in the southwest, around 19:17 | in the evening |
| April | in the west, around 21:16 | in the evening |
| May — july | — | not visible, behind the Sun |
| August | in the east, around 04:18 | low, needs an open horizon |
| September | in the southeast, around 05:13 | before dawn |
| October | in the south, around 04:49 | before dawn |
| November — december | in the south, around 01:43 | around midnight |
Stars of the constellation
| Star | What it is | Magnitude |
|---|---|---|
| Rigel · β Ori | blue-white supergiant | 0.1ᵐ |
| Betelgeuse · α Ori | red supergiant | 0.5ᵐ |
| Bellatrix · γ Ori | blue-white giant | 1.6ᵐ |
| Alnilam · ε Ori | blue-white supergiant | 1.7ᵐ |
| Alnitak · ζ Ori | blue supergiant | 2.0ᵐ |
| Saiph · κ Ori | blue-white supergiant | 2.1ᵐ |
| Mintaka · δ Ori | blue bright giant | 2.2ᵐ |
| Tabit · π³ Ori | yellow-white main-sequence star | 3.2ᵐ |
Orion FAQ
When is the best time to see Orion?
Where is Orion in the sky?
What is the brightest star in Orion?
Neighbouring and other constellations
Related
Constellation lines: Stellarium, CC BY-SA · star names: IAU WGSN, CC BY 4.0