can you answer this for me please ?

[toadpole]

hi there ...for years now when its a clear sky i have allways noticed 3 stars in a straight row .....when i lay in bed i look at them whilst i say my prayers and try to think that they are my mum dad and my son i lost It just gives me a bit of comfort imagining they are all together watching over me so i was just wondering do they have a real name other than ''my 3 special stars '' Marion x

[galanthus]

Canis Minor methinks

[Meta menardi]

My bet would be Orions belt. The three stars in that are very noticeable.

ζ Ori (Alnitak), ε Ori (Alnilam) and δ Ori (Mintaka) make up the asterism known as Orion's Belt: three bright stars in a row; from these alone one can recognize Orion. (Wikipedia)

[galanthus]

Although now having put the name into google seems different I used to gaze at them too during winter and am sure I remembered them as canis minor, maybe now it was major..... or something else Soz

[galanthus]

Originally Posted by Meta menardi

My bet would be Orions belt. The three stars in that are very noticeable.

ζ Ori (Alnitak), ε Ori (Alnilam) and δ Ori (Mintaka) make up the asterism known as Orion's Belt: three bright stars in a row; from these alone one can recognize Orion. (Wikipedia)

Yep definitely. I have been lying to my daughter and friends all of these years, oh dear Thanks meta

[carlos_dfc]

Originally Posted by galanthus

I have been lying to my daughter and friends all of these years, oh dear Thanks meta

You were quite close though - both Canis Major, and Canis Minor, are fairly nearby, to the left of Orion.
If you extend the line of Orion's belt (in your imagination) down and left, they point straight at Sirius, the 'Dog Star', which is the brightest star of Canis Major.

Now look above Orion's belt - see those two bright stars? They are Betelgeuse, and Bellatrix, and they mark Orion's shoulders.
If you extend an imaginary line left from those two, the next bright star you come to is 'Procyon', the brightest star in Canis Minor.

Also, below the belt, is a line of stars pointing down - take a look at that area with binoculars - the middle 'star' is actually the Orion nebula, and even binocs will show the diffuse gas clouds.

Here's a diagram to show how to find these things...

[seamusagleann]

there is a theory that the pyramids of Giza are built in conjuction with Orions belt and the milky way represents the river nile. has any one else heard of this ?

[Dutchess]

Much as I love 'im, I am always pleased to see Orion gradually disappear over the horizon as it means the summer is nigh!

[Marshall Stax]

Originally Posted by seamusagleann

there is a theory that the pyramids of Giza are built in conjuction with Orions belt and the milky way represents the river nile. has any one else heard of this ?

I’ve not heard of the Milky Way/ River Nile link but I have certainly heard of the relationship between Orion’s Belt and the Pyramids of Giza, in fact there have been a fair few documentaries on it in the past.

David

[snowdrop]

Wow, thanks for the ex (planet) ory LoL pic carlos. I cant wait for the next cloudless sky to pick this set of stars out. As I only have bino's......from the last world war, large, heavy, but very clear 8/50.... I look forward to seeing the gas clouds. Thanks again.

[toadpole]

Orions belt ....thank you for that ...Marion