Orion
in mythology, a celebrated Greek giant and hero, and the reputed son of Hyrieus of Hyria, in Bœotia. So ed through the deepest seas he was still a head and shoulders above the water; and when he walked on dry land, his stature reached the clouds. After his death he was placed with his hound in heaven, where, to this day, the following constellation bears his name.
ORKNEY ISLANDS In astronomy, one of the ancient constellations found by by Ptolemy. The equinoctial passes nearly through its center, and it is situated in the Southern Hemisphere with respect to the equator. Four of the seven stars constituting the constellation are situated in the middle of it, in a straight line. Two of these are of the first magnitude, namely Betelguese or Beltegeux, in the right shoulder, and Rigel in the left foot. In the middle of the square are three stars of the second magnitude, which form what is called the belt of Orion. The constellations which surround Orion are Eridamus, Canis Major, Gemini, Auriga and Taurus. Near the sword-scabbard is a remarkable nebula, and within the constellation are thousands of small stars, which are only visible by powerful telescopes.