We've had some pretty interesting discussions in the Christmas Group chat, and here is something I thought can be fun for everyone!
Follow Orion's belt down to the horizon to find Sirius, w/in the
Canis Major constellation - the great dog star. If you've ever heard the phrase "dog days of summer" ? Sirius makes its first appearance above the
horizon in August, the hottest time of the year, so it points to the 'Virgo House' and with the first annual sightings of the Dog Star. It is the Time when Proserpine arises from Hades guided by the 'Dog' of the Underworld.
Now, in Winter, find Orion's belt and follow it upward and find the
Hyades and Pleiades open star clusters in the zodiac constellation of
Taurus -> where Cent (one) Taurus is pointing his arrow to protect the virgin mother in her shining form shining rising above in the star glow of Christmas.
* Follow Orion's shoulder stars Bellatrix (on the right) and Betelguese (red supergiant on the left) to the left of the hunter and see bright Procyon (part of Canis Minor). Let your eyes make out a perfect isosceles triangle with the very bright Betelgeuse, Sirius and Procyon and there is the Winter Triangle.
Now stand in that starlight and ponder that the light from Sirius left the star 7 years ago, Procyon's light 11 years ago and Betelguese's light ~650 years ago.
Betelguese is a star whose core is running out of hydrogen (which fuels the stars' light emanation). It's among the top candidates to supernova soon; and perhaps...maybe it will collapse tomorrow , or has already gone out with a Super Nova Blast. The light is 650 years past, so if it happens today, it was 650 years ago.
-Friend