Last night I went to my garden at around midnight. After many nights of cloudy sky without stars, I finally managed to see Orion, the most prominent constellation at this time of the year.
It is located not exactly overhead but slightly on the eastern side. Stand facing east and look up at 80 degree from horizon.
Orion, the mighty hunter, accompanied by his two dogs (Canis Major and Canis Minor) at the back, awaiting the charging Bull (Taurus) from the front.
The most obvious stars of Orion are the red Betelgeuse that marks his right shoulder, the blue Rigel that marks his left foot and the three stars located mid-way between Betelgeuse and Rigel that form Orion's belt. Three fainter stars below the belt represent his sword.
The principle star of Canis Major, the Greater dog, is Sirius, notable as being the brightest star, is also the nearest star. Sirius and Betelgeuse together with Procyon in Canis Minor, the little dog, they form an almost perfect equilateral triangle.
A line from Sirius through the three stars of Orion's belt leads one way roughly to the Aldebaran, the red eye of the Bull (Taurus).
In December and January in a moonless and cloudless night we can see 10 out of the 20 brightest stars in the sky.
Sirius is the brightest. Another three stars are not shown. They are the second brightest star, Canopus (2) above the south horizon, Achernar (9) above the south-west horizon and Fomalhaut (18) above the west horizon.
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