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Kappa Orionis

Astronomy Kappa CasKaus Australis

[5976] kappa Orionis or Saiph ("the sword") marks Orion's right foot. It is a blue supergiant about 720 light-years distant.

 


Saiph - Kappa Orionis is at Orion's right knee
Hatsya is at the tip of Orion's sword.
Bellatrix Warrior Woman found at Orion's left shoulder ...

The honor of representing the Sword has gone to several stars, and is now officially reserved for Kappa Orionis (Arabic "Saif," for "Sword"). But Iota Orionis claims it as well with "Na'ir al Saiph," and even our Eta has held it, R. H.

The star at the hunter's right knee, Kappa Orionis, is called Saiph. This name comes from the Arabic for ‘sword', and is clearly misplaced. The three stars of the belt - Zeta, Epsilon and Delta Orionis - are called Alnitak, Alnilam and Mintaka.

It lies in the northeastern part (5:46:57.3-14:49:19.0, ICRS 2000.0) of Constellation Lepus, the Hare -- northeast of Arneb (Alpha Leporis) and Nihal (Beta Leporis), west of Eta and Theta Leporis, and southeast of Saiph (Kappa Orionis).

The other corners of the constellation are formed by Bellatrix (gamma Orionis) and Saiph (kappa Orionis). It was once thought that all women born under the sign of Bellatrix would be fortunate and have the gift of speech.

For example, Rigel (Beta Orionis) is actually slightly brighter than Betelgeuse (Alpha Orionis), and Kappa Orionis is considerably brighter than the position of Kappa in the Greek alphabet would suggest.

See also: Orion, Saiph, Orbit, Star, Light