Poster Maker: Feng Juan
As the saying goes: "Three stars shine high, the new year comes", which means that Chinese New Year's Eve night, the famous Betelgeuse three stars hang high in the southern sky, heralding the arrival of the Lunar New Year.
On January 31, the last day of the Year of the Ugly Ox, Chinese New Year's Eve. Astronomical science experts remind that that night, interested members of the public can look for these three bright stars in the sky, feel the joy of retiring the old and welcoming the new, and welcome the arrival of the Year of the Tiger in the Lunar Calendar.
Orion Samsung. Author: Astronomical popular science comic blogger EasyNight (EN fungus)
Song Yuanyuan, director of Tianjin Astronomical Society and astronomical science expert of Tianjin Science and Technology Museum, introduced that Orion is one of the most significant constellations in the northern hemisphere in winter, with obvious structure and high recognition. Betelgeuse Samsung refers to The 1st, 2nd and 3rd Ofsura in the constellation of Orion, also known as "Orion Samsung". The three stars happen to be at the "waist" of the constellation Orion, evenly arranged in a line.
Beijing astronomy enthusiast Yin Hao photographed The constellation of Orion (Visible from Betelgeuse) in Chicheng County, Zhangjiakou City, Hebei Province, on January 31, 2019. (Photo courtesy of The Star Edge Mountain Wind Team)
Why are these three stars related to the Spring Festival? "Because during the Spring Festival, that is, in January and February every year, around 9 o'clock in the evening, these three stars are just hanging in the night sky in the south, which is the so-called 'three stars are just south, it will be the New Year'." Ordinary people believe that these three stars just represent blessing, lu and longevity. The folk name for these three stars contains the good intention of 'happiness, auspiciousness, wealth, health and longevity'. These three stars appear every evening in the winter and spring, but only Chinese New Year's Eve night people pay special attention. Song Yuanyuan said.
Beijing astronomy enthusiast Zhao Yanyan photographed the constellation orion (Visible from Betelgeuse) in Beijing's Dongling Mountain in January 2019. (Photo courtesy of The Star Edge Mountain Wind Team)
"From Earth, the three stars are very close together and about the same brightness, but in fact, these three stars are very far from the Earth and not close to each other. Among them, Betelgeuse is about 1200 light-years away from the Earth, Betelgeuse is more than 2000 light-years away from the Earth, and Betelgeuse is more than 1200 light-years away from the Earth, and one light-year is equal to about 9460 billion kilometers. Song Yuanyuan said.
Beijing astronomy enthusiast Wang Junfeng photographed Orion in the poplar forest of Hami Iwu in Xinjiang on October 7, 2019 (Betelgeuse Samsung is clearly visible). (Courtesy of me)
Chinese New Year's Eve night, how do you find these three stars that represent blessings? Song Yuanyuan said that if the weather is good, even in a city with severe light pollution, facing the southern sky, as long as you look up, you can see Orion with the naked eye.
Beijing astronomy enthusiast Wang Junfeng photographed the constellation of Orion in Hami, Xinjiang, on October 4, 2018 (Visible from Betelgeuse). (Courtesy of me)
Chinese New Year's Eve night, people look up to Tianyu to enjoy the three stars of "Fu, Lu and Shou", may all people be peaceful, and may every family be reunited.
Producer: Hu Qinghai
Planner: Liu Xinhui
Reporter: Zhou Runjian
Editors: Lian Changyan, Tang Jianhui
It was jointly produced by Xinhua News Agency and Tianjin Branch of Xinhua News Agency
Produced by Starry Sky Studios