Celestial hemisphere:  Northern  ·  Constellation: Orion (Ori)  ·  Contains:  24 gam Ori  ·  Bellatrix  ·  NGC 1875  ·  The star Bellatrix (γOri)  ·  VdB40
Bellatrix, John R Carter, Sr.
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Bellatrix

Bellatrix, John R Carter, Sr.
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Bellatrix

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Description

Bellatrix is the bright star on the left shoulder of Orion. Its proper name is Gamma Orionis. Bellatrix appears as a slightly blue star to the naked eye. At magnitude 1.64, it is easily visible even in full moonlight. Bellatrix is the third brightest star in the constellation Orion. It is also known as "the female warrior" and the "Amazon Star."

Bellatrix is 240 light years from earth with a luminosity 6400 times that of the Sun. Now a blue giant (but still smaller than red or orange giants), it's lifetime will soon be over.

Notice the light blue nebulosity near the upper left of Bellatrix (zoom in).

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Bellatrix, John R Carter, Sr.