In the sword there is the most remarkable nebula in the heavens. It may be seen with an opera-glass and in a telescope it is a wonderful sight. Bellatrix is called the Amazon star. Note the contrasting colours of α and β.
About 9° west of Bellatrix are eight stars in a curved line running north and south. These point out the Lion's skin held in the Hunter's left hand.
Below λ there are two stars forming a triangle with it. Flammarion calls this region the California of the sky.
The celestial equator passes nearly through δ.
Orion was worshipped in China during the one thousand years before our era, and was known to the Chinese as the "White Tiger."
The Eskimos see in the Belt stars the three steps cut by some celestial Eskimo in a steep snow bank to enable him to reach the top.
LOCATION.--Lepus crouches under Orion's feet. Four stars in the constellation form an irregular and conspicuous quadrilateral.
γ is a beautiful double of a greenish hue.
Four or five degrees south of Rigel are four faint stars which are in the ear of the hare. They can be seen on a clear night with the naked eye.
The curved line of three stars θ, η, and ζ, are in the back of the hare.
Lepus is about 18° west of Canis Major, and, by reason of the earth's motion, the Great Dog seems to be pursuing the Hare around the heavens.
The first-magnitude stars that are visible in the winter season in this latitude present a fine contrast in color. Even the untrained eye can see a decided difference between the bluish white color of the brilliant Sirius, the Dog star that the Belt stars point south to, and Rigel, and the ruddy Betelgeuze. Procyon has a yellowish tinge and resembles the condition of our sun, while Betelgeuze is surrounded by heavy metallic vapors and is thought to be approaching extinction.
R marks the location of "Hind's crimson star," a famous variable.
COLUMBA NOACHI (co-lum´-bä nō-ä´-ki)--NOAH'S DOVE. (Face South.)
LOCATION.--Columba is situated just south of Lepus. A line drawn from Rigel, in Orion, to β Leporis, and prolonged as far again, ends near α and β, the two brightest stars in Columba.
A line drawn from the easternmost star in the belt of Orion, 32° directly south, will point out Phaet, in Columba. It makes with Sirius, in Canis Major, and Naos, in the Ship, a large equilateral triangle.