Bellatrix
Product information
Description
Bellatrix sparkles with a crisp blue-white hue and forms the left shoulder of Orion the Hunter. Though slightly dimmer than Betelgeuse and Rigel, it stands out clearly and adds symmetry to one of the night sky’s most recognizable constellations.
Additional Information
- Constellation
- Orion
- Spectral Type
- B2III
- Apparent Magnitude
- 1.64
- Distance (Light Years)
- 240
- Right Ascension
- 05h 25m 07.9s
- Declination
- +06° 20′ 59″
- Solar Masses
- 8.6
- Radius (Solar)
- 5.8
- Temperature (Kelvin)
- 22000
- Age (Million Years)
- 25
Discovery
- Ancient Civilizations
- Greeks, Babylonians, Arabs
- Historical Significance
- Bellatrix has been recognized since antiquity as part of the Orion constellation. Its name, meaning 'female warrior' in Latin, gave rise to its nickname 'The Amazon Star'.
Cultural Significance
- Mythology
- In ancient sky lore, Bellatrix is one of Orion’s shoulders — the left one. It has been associated with strength and warrior spirit in various cultures.
- Navigation
- As one of the brighter stars in Orion, Bellatrix was often used as a navigational aid during the winter months, particularly in the Northern Hemisphere.
- Modern Reference
- Bellatrix is not only featured in astronomy books and star maps, but also became widely known as the namesake of **Bellatrix Lestrange**, a character from the *Harry Potter* series. Many stars in Orion and other constellations inspired names in the books.
Notable Features
- Stellar Motion
- Bellatrix is relatively close and exhibits noticeable proper motion. It’s a giant star near the end of its main-sequence life.
- Additional Fact
- Bellatrix’s name — Latin for 'female warrior' — and its visual prominence in Orion have earned it enduring symbolic associations with strength, combat, and mystery.
User Dedications
- Dedications
- This star has not been claimed yet. Be the first to dedicate it to someone special!