Wednesday, April 17, 2013

O is for Orion

I Love Sci-Fi/Fantasy Because...

...of Orion

Constellation Orion
I not only love science fiction and fantasy, but I love science as well--especially astronomy. And Orion is my favorite constellation. It contains the Orion nebula (M42), the stars Betelgeuse and Rigel and is one of the easiest to locate thanks to the hunter's (Orion's) belt and sword, often mistaken for the big or little dipper.

My love of fantasy began in my teens when I encountered Tolkien's work, but my love for science fiction began even earlier. The night sky has always left me in awe, whether viewing it through a telescope, binoculars or the naked eye.

As an adolescent, I would lie on the roof of our house and stare at the stars for hours on end. I'd imagine what it would be like to travel among them, praying that one day it would be possible.

But to keep true to my theme, I find myself obligated to mention the green Orion slave girls of Star Trek, of whom it's said no man can resist.

I fell in love with astronomy, in large part, due to Orion. So thanks to Orion, I fell in love with science fiction and fantasy too.

The Orion Nebula (M42)

14 comments:

  1. Someone pointed out Orion to me once, and whenever I look into a good starry night sky, I try to look for the three linking stars. Sometimes I find more than one set of linking stars, and that's when it gets confusing.

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  2. I'm not really into science, but I do love staring at the stars and moon. The only Orion I know is from Greek mythology!

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  3. I was more interested in astrology when I was younger. But the stars are a mysterious thing.

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  4. There's something about looking up at the stars that fires the imagination.

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  5. I'm not exaggerating when I say Orion has always been my favorite constellation too. It's easily located in the night sky and I even mention it and M42 in my wip. (: I often wish I had the money to spend on a good telescope, especially for the kids.

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  6. That's why we're friends, you see? Orion has always have a special charm for me. I used to talk to the warrior there. I think I already wrote about that in Imaginary Friends Bloghop. When I was young I could name most of the constellations that can be seen from the top of my cave. :)

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  7. Well done Orion for getting you into sci-fi (my favorite genre). Whenever I hear the name it actually makes me think of the first Men In Black movie haha.

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  8. Gorgeous! I could look at the sky forever too. And at one time I thought Betelgeuse was just a character from a wacky 80s movie. lol

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  9. My husband loves to star gaze. Me? I fake it. I really don't get it, but he likes it so I will stare up at the sky with him and never admit I'm thinking, "I should get those dishes done" the whole time.

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  10. I love the constellation Orion. It's really the only one I care about. Every time life gets crazy I can look up and see Orion, always there, almost like he's looking out for me. It helps me focus.

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  11. When I lived in Arizona, the night sky was incredible.

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  12. Beautiful photo. Orion was the first constellation I ever learned.

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  13. I love science (and math) especially astronomy. I love to be in the mountains away from the city lights where the stars are so bright you can easily see the Milky Way. And I love the clear warm nights when I can take out my (low power) telescope and look at the moon.

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  14. I love sci-fi and science as well, though I'm really not that adept at it. I sure have the hunger for knowledge, just not the sciency-brain. Astronomy is my fave area of science, though it's all pretty awesome.

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