Orion Has Returned

Lately I've been taking my walks early in the morning every few days or so. It started back when the weather was so hot and I was trying to avoid the heat, but I've enjoyed it so much I've kept it up even though the weather has gotten a bit cooler in the afternoons.

One of the best things about walking before dawn is that it is a great time to see the stars. Earlier this month I enjoyed watching the planets Venus and Jupiter burning bright in the Eastern sky, and now one of the few constellations I recognize - Orion - has returned to the morning sky. Orion is one of the most famous of the constellations, partly because it is visible practically all over the world and partly because it actually looks like something - a hunter with a shield, a raised arm, and a sword hanging from his belt.

Spotting Orion this morning brought mixed feelings for me. As a constellation we in the northern hemisphere see mainly in the wintertime, its return means fall is right around the corner and winter is right behind that. I am not ready for cold weather! On a positive note, Orion's reappearance means that football season, cozy evenings around the fireplace, and that great trinity of holidays (Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas) will soon arrive. Even more exciting for the Jackson household, the arrival of "the hunter" means we're closer than ever to our daughter Amy's wedding. Yeah!

If you happen to be up before dawn in the next few weeks, step outside and look up at the southeastern sky and check out Orion yourself. It might help you to find it by locating the brightest object in the predawn sky first - that's the planet Venus. You'll find Venus about a hands-width above the eastern horizon. Betelgeuse, Orion's second brightest star (and the hunter's right shoulder) sits just off to the right of Venus. Enjoy!