Bellatrix is the third-brightest star in the constellation of Orion, positioned 5° west of the red supergiant Betelgeuse. It has the Bayer designation γ Orionis, which is Latinized to Gamma Orionis. With a slightly variable magnitude of around 1.6, it is typically the 25th-brightest star in the night sky. Located at a distance of 250±10 light-years from the Sun, it is a blue giant star around 7.7 times as massive as the sun with 5.75 times its diameter.
Bellatrix is a bright star in the constellation of Orion (top right).
Orion is a constellation which is visible from most parts of the world. As well as being one of the 88 modern constellations, it was one of the 48 constellations listed by the 2nd-century astronomer Ptolemy. It is named for a hunter in Greek mythology.
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The constellation of Orion, as it can be seen by the naked eye. Lines have been drawn.
Orion as depicted in Urania's Mirror, a set of star chart cards published in London c. 1825
This view brings out many fainter features, such as Barnard's Loop.