
Orion only returned to visibility in Earth’s sky about a month ago. By June of each year, the Hunter lies behind the sun as seen from Earth. Orion was low in the west after sunset around March and April. Stars and constellations pass behind the sun But presently, the Hunter and the Dog Star lord over the sky at dawn’s first light.ĮarthSky astronomy kits are perfect for beginners. You won’t see Orion and the nearby star Sirius in the evening sky until northern winter (or southern summer). That’s the effect of our thick atmosphere causing its light to waver, or twinkle. It’s so bright that, when it’s low in the sky, it shines with glints of red and flashes of blue. Have you noticed a very bright, madly twinkling star in this part of the early morning sky? Many do – around the world – at this time of year. And the sky’s brightest star Sirius – called the Dog Star because it’s part of the constellation Canis Major the Greater Dog – follows Orion into the sky as the predawn darkness gives way to dawn. The very noticeable constellation Orion the Hunter rises before dawn at this time of year, recognizable for the short straight line of three stars that make up Orion’s Belt. In late August and early September, look for a hint of the changing season in the predawn sky: Orion the Hunter and Sirius the Dog Star. The return of Sirius and the winter constellations to the morning sky heralds a change of season. Here’s another early morning sight you won’t want to miss.
