Orion: stick figure and illustration, at transit

Event Date: February 27th

Time: 7:10(.47) PM

Brief

   As Jupiter starts descending faster towards the horizon, high in the west-southwest, we see Orion at its highest.  Some people base this on when the belt stars are parallel with the horizon.  In the case of some latitudes, this may be the case.  However at mid-northern latitudes, that is when the constellation as a whole is past transit by about an hour.  Looking at the image below with the stick figure of The Hunter, we see that he is nearly "floating" in an upright position, when taking into account the stars that mark his body parts, joints, and how he holds his club high.  In the second image, I include the classical illustration to show this, and how the belt with its stars, are slanted around his waist.

click on images to enlarge: courtesy of Starry Night Pro Plus, version 6.4.3, by Simulation Curriculum Corp.

Detailed

   As the second image shows, it seems as if Orion is down on one knee.  He is definitely not proposing to someone with an engagement ring (sorry, bad joke)!  More seriously, he seems to be defending himself against Taurus* the Bull, which he must be ready to defend.  The illustrations for the constellations are quite interesting, and I plan to show more of them as the year progresses.  Orion is a favorite not only because he is easy to remember, yet because some people like the way he holds a club and shield; the stars that indicate these weapons are not too dim.  

   There are other constellations near Orion that are not as easy to make out as figures of animals or people, yet one is very easy to his bottom left.  Can you tell??  The brightest star, Sirius--as a hint--marks a nose, while other stars seem to make out its body.  Find out the answer tomorrow, if you can't remember on your own.

*Taurus is unlabeled, yet if you have seen it in the sky enough times, the stars around Jupiter are definitely familiar, along with the horn stars to Orion's upper right.