Monday, January 23, 2012

If orion is a zodiac constellation, why can we see it for more than one season?

If a constellation is a zodiac constellation of near the zodiac band It can only be seen during a specific season, or else it will be hidden by the sun or present during the day (not visible). And since Orion rises and sets, it goes east to west, it cannot be a near polar star. So it should be seasonal, but it seems that I can see it for most of the year. I live within the tropical belt.If orion is a zodiac constellation, why can we see it for more than one season?Orion is not a Zodiac constellation. However, Taurus and Gemini are as they are adjacent to Orion. Orion sits a bit southerly of them and therefore, you, in the tropics would see Orion more so than anyone else.

The signs of the Zodia are aligned along the ecliptic. This is the path the sun travels as the earth orbits around the sun. The ecliptic sits at a 23.5 degree slant offset from the equator. So some constellations seem a bit higher than others. This is more pronounced the closer you get to the poles..If orion is a zodiac constellation, why can we see it for more than one season?Orion is a constellation but not a zodiac sign. Orion is the Hunter. In the fall you can see it rise in the east, and like the sun, it will travel across the sky, except at night. As we pass into the winter and spring, Orion is higher in the sky at sunset, so you see less and less of it because it spends less and less time in the night sky before the sun rises. In other words, at sunset, it it closer and closer to the western horizon and sets earlier as we head toward spring.



Because you are in the tropics the constellation is higher in the sky and travels a large arc compared to someone that sees Orion low on the horizon where it would set earlier and be in the sky for only a short period at night.If orion is a zodiac constellation, why can we see it for more than one season?Orion is not a zodiac constellation. But it is pretty close to Taurus, which is a zodiac constellation. During the month or two that the Sun is close to that area, it is hidden in the glare of the Sun, but the rest of the time you can see it. But it is best viewed at this time of year because it is high in the sky at sunset. At other times of the year to have to stay up really late (or get up just before dawn) to see it.If orion is a zodiac constellation, why can we see it for more than one season?
It depends on how long you stay up to watch. Orion (an equatorial, NOT a zodiacal constellation) is directly overhead in December-January at about 9PM, when most people are likely to be watching. But it's out all night, first in the East, then in the West near dawn. It's visible in April, but not all night. It's visible in September, if you get up early enough. But you won't see it in July. The Sun won't let you.

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