They marked the north end of the Rule, and were left out of Norma, now just the Carpenters Square, and the Rule was obsolete. Tonight, the Big Dipper and the Little Dipper will be shining above the Tampa Bay night sky. The curved line leads first to Arcturus, the brightest northern star, and then to Spica. FOR INFO ABOUT DARK SKY SITES IN FLORIDA FOR BETTER OBSERVING, GO TO THE DARK SITES PAGE There are public Astronomy events in Florida's parks, star parties and New Moon observing events with Astronomy clubs from dark sky sites, and events at observatories and planetariums. It was created by the Dutch-Flemish astronomer Petrus Plancius in the late 16th century. These are said to represent Orions sword. ft. home is a 3 bed, 2.0 bath property. It can be used to find the famous Crab Nebula (Messier 1), the remnant of a historical supernova seen in 1054. Despite its size, the constellation does not stand out in the sky because its stars are mostly faint. In fact, Cassiopeia and the Big Dipper circle around Polaris, the North Star, once a day, every day. You can see see all of Crux from the U.S. state of Hawaii. Five first-magnitude stars appear in the northern sky in the evening: Rigel and Betelgeuse in Orion, Procyon in Canis Minor, Pollux in Gemini, and Aldebaran in Taurus. Well send you our newsletter with travel destinations, This is another supergiant star, 22 times the mass of ourSun. A smaller hexagonal asterism appears low above the northern horizon. The womans name Norma probably came from the meaning of precept, rather than right angle. Our vibrant spaces will help make any event shine. Sky map produced using Chris MarriottsSkymapPro. Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park, NW 192nd Ave, Okeechobee, FL, USA +1 863-462-5360. Procyon, the brightest star in Canis Minor and the eighth brightest star in the sky, appears higher above the horizon, almost directly south. See how far the planets are from the Sun or Earth, how bright they look, and their apparent size in the sky. Eridanus, the celestial River, occupies much of the western and southwestern sky. Custom programming and server maintenance by Reinvented Inc. Night Sky Map for February 2023: Orion, The Hunter, Night Sky Map for January 2023: The Brightest Night Sky of the Year, Orion the Hunter Reigns in the Winter Sky, Night Sky February 2023: Visible Planets, Stars, Moon, Night Sky Map for September 2022: Pegasus & Measuring the Sky. The fainter Coma Berenices and Canes Venatici appear in the region between Virgo and the handle of the Big Dipper. Alafia River State Park State Parkused as a secondary observing site by the Saint Petersburg Astronomy Club. Events and clubs around the state offer opportunities to view the cosmos. Leo rises in the northeastern sky. Lynx occupies much of the space between these two constellations and Ursa Major, but its brightest stars are fainter than magnitude 3.0 and difficult to see from urban skies. Pollux is the 17th brightest star in the sky and Castor is the 23rd. Take advantage of the full moon with the Santa Fe Canoe Outpost, which offers full moon paddles on the Santa Fe River. You may need binoculars. Capella, the brightest star in Auriga, is the sixth brightest star in the sky. Try finding a good, unobstructed view of the horizon. With clear skies and low pollution, its one of the only places in the United States where you can see the Southern Cross constellation. Western sky in the northern hemisphere, image: Stellarium. With binoculars, the Great Nebula looks like a small, glowing cloud. Bellatrix (the star) is even bluer than Rigel, but because Bellatrix is dimmer, its color is less apparent except on especially clear, darknights. 2 Baths. Star-gazers love to appreciate the skies from Sebastian Inlet, as local Astronomy Clubs often hold star parties in the area where astronomy fans gather to share their passion for the view above with each other. And just as with a clock, the movement is slow. A bit past Aldebaran, youll see the Pleiades cluster, which marks the Bulls Shoulder. Cassiopeia lies in the northwestern sky and Ursa Major is high in the northeast. The three constellations that once formed Argo Navis, the largest constellation in the sky, appear high above the southern horizon in the evening. Miaplacidus, the second brightest star in Carina, can be used to find the fainter constellations Volans and Chamaeleon, while Canopus appears near the border with Pictor. It remained popular in the United States until around 1930 when it began to lose ground. Everglades National Park, Florida, USA +1 305-242-7700. The Hyades and the Pleiades are among the brightest and nearest open clusters in the sky. Tucana in the southwestern sky hosts 47 Tucanae, the second brightest globular cluster in the sky, after Omega Centauri. How large are the planets and what is their order from the Sun? The brightest stars of Andromeda Alpheratz, Mirach, and Almach form a chain that appears almost perpendicular to the northwestern horizon in the evening. The remaining faint stars above the southern edge of Norma barely manage to come up a half a degree above our southern horizon, so it is really not much to look at. From. The map also shows the phases of the Moon, and all solar and lunar eclipses. Beta The Interactive Night Sky Map simulates the sky above Florida on a date of your choice. The cluster marks the Bulls shoulder and is one of the most recognizable features of the northern sky. Its three brightest stars, the orange giants Alpha, Epsilon, and Iota Antliae, have apparent magnitudes of 4.25, 4,51, and 4.60. Your submission has been received! Aries sets in the northwest around 10 pm. Many of these stars shine hundreds of times more brightly than our sun. may earn a commission for purchases made through our links. Visit one of these breathtaking spots in Florida that are perfect for appreciating the astronomical wonders of the constellation. BONUS: Youll also receive our freeBeginner GardeningGuide! Copyright document.write(new Date().getFullYear())2021 VISIT FLORIDA. The faint Sculptor, the home of the Sculptor Galaxy (NGC 253) and the Cartwheel Galaxy (ESO 350-40), is difficult to see from light-polluted areas. The constellation represents Noahs Dove. The constellation maps below show the sky as it appears at around 10 pm in the mid-northern, equatorial, and mid-southern latitudes. When getting your bearings under the stars, its often easiest to spot an asterism and use it as a guide to finding the parentconstellation. The star system contains Proxima Centauri, the closest individual star to the Sun. Alderamin, the brightest star in Cepheus, appears at the base of the house asterism. Vela represents the ships sails and Carina, the keel. If youre familiar with the famous constellation Orion, it can help you be sure youve found the Pleiades. Polaris, the brightest star in Ursa Minor, marks the location of the north celestial pole. Centaurus hosts Omega Centauri, the Milky Ways brightest and largest globular cluster, and the open clusters NGC 3766 and NGC 5460. However, the story about the lost seventh Pleiad appears universal. The stars of Berenices Hair represented the tuft of the tail. He pointed out the Teapot of Sagittarius and various globular star clusters, signaling that a show-stopping spectacle was in the making. The two dog constellations Canis Major and Canis Minor represent the dogs following Orion, the Hunter, as he chases a hare represented by the constellation Lepus. Science news, great photos, sky alerts. Completing the main outline of Orion is Saiph, marking the Hunters right knee. Big Pine Key, FL, USA Credit: TimothyJ via Flickr Cedar Key Cedar Key Best Places to Stay Check the Astronaut Memorial Planetarium schedule at calendarwiz.com/planetarium for more show descriptions. Most people see six, not seven, Pleiades stars in a dark country sky. Moon phases visualized in real time, the past, or the future. Combine plenty of great weather with world-class nature and youve got a recipe for a gorgeous night under the stars in Florida. Full Moon rises around sunset, is visible all night, and sets around sunrise.. Last Quarter Moon rises in the middle of the night, is visible in the early morning sky before sunrise, and sets around mid-day. Tonight, the Big Dipper and the Little Dipper will be shining above the Tampa Bay night sky. These include the bright open clusters Messier 36, Messier 37, and Messier 38, the Flaming Star Nebula (IC 405), the Tadpole Nebula (IC 410), the Spider Nebula (IC 417), and the Fly Nebula (NGC 1931). Lead Artists: Jason Kelly Johnson & Nataly Gattegno (Futureforms) There actually are 50 "ancient" constellations; astronomers divided one of the constellations (Argo) into 3 parts. Date: 2020 Location: University of West Florida(UWF), Pensacola, Florida. The brightest of these are Betelgeuse on his right shoulder and Rigel on his left knee. In the contiguous U.S., you need to be in southern Florida or Texas (about 26 degrees north latitude or farther south). The brightest stars in Norma Gamma, Delta, Epsilon and Eta make up an irregular square in the north end of the constellation. View more property details, sales history and Zestimate data on Zillow. But you can see the Pleiades cluster in the evening sky well into April. Regor, the luminary of Vela, is part of a multiple-star system that contains the brightest and nearest Wolf-Rayet star to the Sun. The orange giant Menkent, the third brightest point of light in Centaurus, marks the Centaurs head while Alpha and Beta Centauri mark the feet. It is formed by a circle of mostly faint stars. The most conspicuous constellations high overhead in the evening are Canis Major and Canis Minor. The constellations in tonights sky host many familiar star patterns. Gemini appears southeast of Auriga and northeast of the bright Orion. These constellations are mostly bright and easy to see even from areas with some light pollution. They are outlined by an asterism called the Sickle. These are the best constellations to start with because they are visible all year long. The Lions tail, marked by the bright Denebola, is pointing toward the horizon, and its head and mane appear higher in the sky. | Contact Us. The people are so friendly and knowledgeable. These include the Rosette Nebula with the Satellite Cluster, the Cone Nebula with the Christmas Tree Cluster, and the open cluster Messier 50. As a general rule, the Pleiades cluster rises into the eastern sky before Aldebaran rises, and sets in the west before Aldebaran sets. He's a sundial aficionado, whose love for the heavens has taken him to Lake Titicaca in Bolivia and sailing in the North Atlantic, where he earned his celestial navigation certificate through the School of Ocean Sailing and Navigation. I got it," echoed as spectators found Uranus and the North Pole of the moon, that is. The zodiac constellations Leo and Virgo rise in the east in the evening. Its smaller sibling, the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC), lies in the constellations Hydrus and Tucana and stays below the horizon in the evening. Regulus marks the heart and Denebola, which rises a bit later in the evening, marks the Lions tail. Click hereor on map below to enlarge(PDF). Get Saturn is just 13 degrees from the Sun in the sky, so it is difficult to see. Northern sky in the northern hemisphere, image: Stellarium. Its brightest star, the white giant Alpha Sextantis, is difficult to make out even in good conditions. Wooten grabbed green lasers and pointed to the darkening beach sky. This is the imaginary line that extends through the planet and out of the north and south poles. The nebula spans an area of 7 by 5 degrees and is easily spotted near the Southern Cross. The bright Crux hosts the Southern Cross, the best-known asterism in the southern hemisphere. Thank you! Top left of centre, the two prominent stars are Castor and Pollux in Gemini. The star constellations that can be seen in the night sky depend on the observer's location and season, and they change throughout the year. Even from the far . Around 35 from Sirius is the second brightest star, Canopus, the Great Star of the South. These constellations appear high overhead in the evening. Aldebaran appears as the brightest member of the Hyades, a bright, large, V-shaped open cluster easily visible to the unaided eye. The star has a mass 9 times that of the Sun and is 170,000 times more luminous. Atria, the brightest of the three stars, points in the direction of Pavo (the Peacock). Puppis hosts three bright open clusters catalogued by Charles Messier: Messier 46, Messier 47, and Messier 93. In the northern hemisphere, Scorpius is most visible by looking to the south during July and August around 10:00 PM. Finally, you may notice a group of three stars hanging downward below the Belt. Venus is visible by day, but may be hard to find. Venus is close to the Sun and can only be seen shortly after sunset. Powdery white sands and peaceful surroundings make St. Joseph Peninsula State Park not only a great place to visit during the day, but an excellent spot to set up a telescope and spend an evening stargazing. Our monthly sky map does not show the entire sky which would be almost impossible. Star parties are another opportunity for public viewing. With a skilled guide, experience a unique view of nocturnal life as you float under the sparkling stars. Known for having some of the darkest skies in Florida, take advantage of Cedar Keys quaint and isolated location with an evening under the stars. The V-shaped pattern is the Face of Taurus the Bull. Try to find the darkest viewing area you can and give your eyes some time to adjust to the night sky. Venus is close to the Sun and can only be seen shortly after sunset. Eridanus stretches from Rigel in Orion near the celestial equator into the far southern sky. Largely unknown to northern observers due to its location in the far southern sky, the Southern Cross is formed by Acrux (Alpha Crucis), Mimosa (Beta Crucis), Gacrux (Gamma Crucis), and Imai (Epsilon Crucis). Saturn and Jupiter will be visible in our telescope from about 9 p.m. to 10 p.m., weather permitting. Canopus, the brightest star in Carina, is the second-brightest star in the sky, after Sirius. The constellation can be found within the triangle formed by Diphda, Alnair, and Ankaa, the brightest stars in Cetus, Grus, and Phoenix. The Y of Virgo, the identifying feature of Virgo, has partly risen by 10 pm, but the bright Spica, the 16th brightest star in the sky, rises a bit later in the evening. The faint constellations Pyxis and Antlia also make an appearance in the southern and southeastern sky, but their stars are barely visible from light-polluted areas. Its stars are easily visible between Taurus and Cassiopeia on a clear night. Aldebaran, the brightest star in the constellation, is found along the imaginary line extended from Alnitak, Alnilam, and Mintaka, the stars of Orions Belt, to the northwest. 3 Beds. The main figure of Orion consists of seven bright stars. The surest way to see additional Pleiades stars is to look at this cluster through binoculars or low power in a telescope. Thursday, 3/2/2023. I list the ones I hear about at the Florida Astronomy Events page. Its five brightest stars form a prominent hexagon with Elnath, the star that marks the northern horn of Taurus, the Bull. Head to Suwannee River Wilderness Trail for a chance to appreciate Floridas natural light show. Primarily made of dust and ice, many have a tail (coma) and are thought to be remnants of the formation of the Solar System. The constellation figure of Circinus, a small, elongated triangle reminiscent of the compass (the drafting tool), can be made out between the Southern Triangle and the luminaries of the constellation Centaurus. Its seen from as far north as the North Pole and farther south than the southernmost tip of South America. The Sunshine State boasts astronomical societies and space observatories in Florida from Pensacola to Key West, and from the Atlantic to the Gulf. The Lions mane is outlined by an asterism known as the Sickle of Leo. Rigel, the constellations brightest star, can be used to find Cursa, the second brightest star in Eridanus (the River). save favorite. Pollux is one of the stars that form the Winter Hexagon, an exceptionally bright and large asterism formed by six first-magnitude stars (Sirius, Capella, Rigel, Procyon, Aldebaran, and Pollux). Try finding a good, unobstructed view of the horizon. Eastern sky in the southern hemisphere, image: Stellarium. Visibility improves as the sunlight fades. It has a close spectroscopic companion, a hot blue O-type giant with a mass of 28.5 solar masses and a luminosity of 280,000 Suns. Instead, themap focuses on a particular region of the sky each month where something interesting is happening. Peacock (Alpha Pavonis), the brightest star in Pavo, is one of the bright stars selected for use in celestial navigation, but the rest of the constellation is relatively inconspicuous. The Hunters shoulders are marked by the bright Betelgeuse and Bellatrix and his feet by Saiph and Rigel. SOLD FEB 13, 2023. Draco, one of the largest constellations in the sky, winds around the bowl of the Little Dipper. At this time of the year, the Big Dipper appears upside down, with the handle pointing toward the horizon. 1,638 Sq. The cluster is easily visible to the unaided eye on a clear night. Pollux can be used to find the fainter Cancer, which appears between it and Regulus in Leo. The fainter Lupus (the Wolf) is partly visible below the Pointers. Arcturus is the brightest star in the constellation Botes (the Herdsman), which appears in the northeastern sky in the evening. With a generous amount of dark nights, Adams Tract River Camp is said to be the best spot on the river to see the stars. Representing the stern of Argo, the mythical ship of Jason and the Argonauts, Puppis was once part of the larger constellation Argo Navis with the neighbouring constellations Carina and Vela. Constellation Map Constellation maps divide the celestial sphere into 88 parts, known as constellations, helping astronomers locate stars and deep sky objects. Procyon, Sirius, and Betelgeuse can be used to find the faint Monoceros. The 1,869 sq. Uranus can best be seen in the hours just after sunset. Coma Berenices also hosts the Coma Cluster of galaxies, a large cluster that contains more than 1,000 members. These include the Flaming Star Nebula and the Tadpole Nebula. Leo is one of the most identifiable constellations in the sky. The two constellations will be visible in the evening sky most of June. Use it to locate a planet, the Moon, or the Sun and track their movements across the sky. Members answer questions, give advice on telescopes and point out interesting objects in the Florida night sky. Fairly close to the Sun. Denebola appears at the tip of the tail. Guaranteed to sell out, so get one while you can. It can be found using the outer stars of the Big Dippers bowl. Far from traffic, noise, and bright lights, this gem of the Nature Coast is a nature lovers dream and one of the best places to visit if you want to avoid the tourist crowds. The bright stars of Cassiopeias W appear in the northwestern sky. This is the lowest to highest salary we in good faith believe we would pay for this role at the time of this posting. Privacy & Terms, More about this and other astronomy highlights 2023. This month's Sky Map includes a close-up . While the stars of Hydra are mostly faint, the mythical monsters head can be found between Procyon and Regulus, the brightest star in Leo. Due to later changes in how constellations were drawn up, Norma lost its two brightest stars, Alpha Normae and Beta Normae, to Scorpius. The hourglass figure of Orion appears parallel to the horizon. Carina also hosts Eta Carinae, one of the most luminous stars known. These are also known as (alpha) Geminorum (Castor) and (beta) Geminorum (Pollux). Please use another device/browser or check out the desktop version of the Interactive Night Sky Map. The bright Gemini appears high above the northern horizon. Although we call it the Belt, this asterism (unofficial star pattern) has many names in various cultures and religions, including the yardstick, the wand, and the Three Kings (after the Christmasstory). Russ Drum submitted it and wrote: "The Pleiades (aka the Seven Sisters) is an open star cluster located in the constellation . Ideal for those who want to be a part of a community, this area in Chiefland, Florida is for those who are truly passionate about gazing into the starry skies. When you look to the south in February, your view is dominated by Orion, standing tall and proud. Next to Norma is Ara, The Oven (think chemistry). There is no brighter constellation in the night sky thanOrion, the Hunter. The ears of the Hare lie just below Rigel and its tail below Saiph, pointing in the direction of Sirius. Gienah and Algorab point in the direction of Spica. Your email address will only be used for EarthSky content. A public rest area used by the South Florida Amateur Astronomers Association. Aries and Triangulum appear between Perseus and the horizon, while the larger Pisces has mostly set by 10 pm. This gravitationally bound cluster of several hundred stars looms some 430 light-years distant, and these sibling stars drift through space together at about 25 miles per second (40 km/sec). There are eight open star clusters in Norma visible with binoculars. If you are located substantially north of these areas, objects on our map will appear lower in your sky, and some objects near the horizon will not be visible at all. Its three brightest stars, Hamal, Sheratan, and Mesarthim, form a flat triangle that makes the constellation identifiable. 1121 Main Street | P.O. Claims go up as high as 20 stars. It has been observed to outshine Diphda but is normally much fainter. All three are visible to the unaided eye. But the real crowd-pleasers of the evening were "Tycho," an impact crater on the dark side of the moon, and the poles of the nearly full moon. You can easily find the Big Dipper. As you turn your head from side to side, you will be looking in the compass direction indicated by those numbers. Alnitak, Alnilam, and Mintaka point in the direction of the giant star. The constellation is also home to a portion of the Virgo Cluster, a galaxy cluster that occupies about 8 degrees of the sky and is centred in the neighbouring zodiac constellation Virgo. The parties range from an evening to weeklong events. Arcturus, Spica, and Regulus form the Spring Triangle, an asterism that dominates the northern spring sky. Time and Date AS 19952023. It can be used to find the famous Sombrero Galaxy (Messier 104) in Virgo and the interacting pair NGC 4038 and NGC 4039, also known as the Antennae Galaxies, in Corvus. State: Florida (US-FL) Employment Type: Part-Time. If youre looking for a unique place to stay, check out the top Airbnb rentals in the area. The Role at a glance: We are looking to add an . And there is no better time to view Orion than an early evening in February, so bundle up! The bright star in the V called Aldebaran depicts the Bulls Eye. The Sickle looks like a backward question mark and has Regulus, the constellations brightest star, at its base. The company is headquartered in London, and has offices in Virginia, US and a satellite manufacturing facility in Florida - Airbus OneWeb Satellites - that is a joint venture with Airbus Defence and Space.The company was formerly known as WorldVu Satellites Ltd. The stars of Aurigas Hexagon can also be used to find the bright Messier clusters M36, M37, and M38. Columba is a small constellation appearing south of Canis Major and Lepus. Outreach club programs also teach about the Florida skies. Crux stars can be used to find the fainter Musca (the Fly), which lies near Acrux. Spica, the luminary of Virgo, has not yet risen around 10 pm, but Spicas Spanker, an asterism formed by the brightest stars of Corvus, is easy to spot above the eastern horizon. Try finding a good, unobstructed view of the horizon. In the southern hemisphere, Scorpio appears very high in the northern part of the sky until close to the end of September. Let's examine the Hunter in detail. Plus, if you don't know your directions you will want to start with Polaris (the North Star). Constellations creates a theater-in-the-round that acts like a portal into an invisible world of dynamic visual poetry inspired by ideas of science, art and technology. Mercury is just 12 degrees from the Sun in the sky, so it is difficult to see. Brand: Constellation. Its big, bright and will look like a pot with a big handle ready to scoop something up. I think it looks more like an arrowhead. Mu Normae may be up to a million times as luminous and 60 times as massive as our sun. Yet this modest constellation is home to Abell 3627, one of the most massive galaxy clusters known to exist. The Lions tail once extended into what is now Coma Berenices. The Sunshine State boasts astronomical societies and space observatories in Florida from Pensacola to Key West, and from the Atlantic to the Gulf. The constellation remains visible until mid-September. Free telescopes are offered at exciting events held throughout the summer for your stargazing pleasure. For northern observers, winter is the best time of the year to see Auriga and Gemini. While it has no stars brighter than 4th magnitude and it only covers 165 square degrees (0.4 percentof the night sky), its location in the middle of the Milky Way makes it a rich starry field. Several of the stars in the Little Dipper are under magnitude 4. It lies at the base of an asterism called the Kite. Comets are small celestial bodies that orbit the Sun. Request Tour (321) 255-2600 Send an Email. Menkar, the star marking the Sea Monsters jaw, can be found using the V-shaped head of the Bull as a pointer. This months Sky Map includes a close-up view of Orion on the right-hand side of themap. The asterism is also known as the Sail. There is no brighter constellation in the night sky than Orion, the Hunter. Constellation Culinary works with our partners to bring their culinary visions to life in intimate weddings, iconic institutions, and everywhere in between. The cloud glows because many young stars are still embedded within it. On Orions left shoulder lies the very blue star Bellatrix, meaning female warrior. Its no coincidence that the Bellatrix Lestrange character in the Harry Potter books is extremely warlike (and not in a good way!). But Florida's star power doesn't stop there. The Greek name Pleiades probably comes from a word meaning to sail. It is an evolved hot blue giant star about 66,000 times more luminous than the Sun. The two constellations will be visible in the evening sky most of June. With binoculars, it looks like there are three other objects. It lies some 52 light-years from Earth. Mr. Badger is Project Coordinator at the Eastern Florida State College Planetarium in Cocoa. Very close to Sun, hard or impossible to see. It is the 74th smallest of the 88 constellations in the sky. In our Northern Hemispheres skies, the Pleiades cluster is associated with the coming winter season. The arm is often depicted as holding a weapon of some sort, often a club. The giant Alphard, the constellations brightest star, shines at magnitude 2.0. In contrast, the dimmest star in the Big Dipper is only about magnitude 3.3. The animation is not supported by your device/browser. Castor may look like only one star, but in reality, it contains six stars in orbit with each other. When you look to the south in February, your view is dominated by Orion, standing tall and proud. Its brightest star, the orange giant Alpha Lyncis, shines at magnitude 3.14. Ambersweet Observatory A private observatory near Umatilla Area 63 Lepus (the Hare) appears at Orions feet. It is the brightest star above the southwestern horizon in the evening. Even though its age is only 3.2 million years (compared to the Suns 4.6 billion years), Naos is already near the end of its life. High-powered telescopes and binoculars make the proverbial "close-up" a reality, resulting in chorus after chorus of heart-felt oohs and aahs. Betelgeuse and Rigel are both classified as supergiant stars, having about 8 and 21 times the mass, respectively, of our Sun. A conjunction is when planets like Mars, Jupiter, or Saturn, or other bodies like stars or the Moon, meet in the sky. See how far the planets are from the Sun or Earth, how bright they look, and their apparent size in the sky. Saturn is just 13 degrees from the Sun in the sky, so it is difficult to see. Something went wrong while submitting the form. Hospitality & Retail. Canis Major hosts Sirius, the brightest star in Earths sky, and Canis Minor is home to Procyon, the eighth brightest star. The middle star in the sword isnt a star at all, but is instead a giant cloud of glowing gas and dust known as the Orion Nebula or the Great Nebula inOrion.