What is Orion’s belt?

Orion’s Belt is a row of three bright stars across the middle of a constellation or group of stars. One of the three is easily distinguishable by its yellow-red colour, which contrasts strongly with the whiteness of the others.

The whole constellation was named after Orion, the great hunter of ancient Greek mythology. When Orion was killed by the goddess Artemis, he was changed, according to the myth, into a group of stars.  These took form of a warrior wearing a girdle of three stars (Orion’s Belt) and a lion’s skin, and carrying a club, a sword and a shield. Below the belt a hazy line of stars representing the jewels on Orion’s sword can be seen.