Author:
Evaluation:
Published: 18.02.2017.
Language: English
Level: Secondary school
Literature: 11 units
References: Not used
  • Essays 'Rigel Research', 1.
  • Essays 'Rigel Research', 2.
  • Essays 'Rigel Research', 3.
  • Essays 'Rigel Research', 4.
Extract

There is an interesting component of the Orion constellation, M42. It is not a star, but a nebula and a region, where many stars are forming, 1,500 light years away. M42 forms the sword of Orion. It's easily visible with the naked eye.
Rigel is a blue supergiant. Many times the mass and radius of our Sun. The name Rigel is referring to the left leg of the Orion constellation, in which Rigel is the brightest. Rigel forms a binary star system with Rigel B. In the Orion constellation, there also are stars like Betelgeuse, Bellatrix, which are supergiants too. It is possible that Rigel is going to become a supernova I the next million years. Maybe it has already happened?

Author's comment
Atlants