Delta Orionis

Delta Orionis (δ Ori), traditionally known as Mintaka (from منطقة manţaqah, which means "belt" in Arabic) , is a star some 900 light years distant in the constellation Orion. Together with Zeta Orionis (Alnitak) and Epsilon Orionis (Alnilam), the three stars make up the belt of Orion, known by many names across many ancient cultures. Delta Orionis (δ Ori) is the right-most star.

System

Mintaka is actually a multiple star at the eastern end of Orion's belt, with a magnitude 7 star about 52" away from the main component and an even fainter star in between. The main component itself is also double, consisting of a class B giant and a smaller but hotter class O. The stars orbit each other every 5.73 days. These two stars are both about 70,000 times as luminous as the Sun with a mass of some 20 solar masses.

In 1904, Johannes Hartmann discovered that interstellar space contains a thin gas, by using Mintaka as a background source (see interstellar medium).

Etymology and cultural significance

Mintaka was also seen by astrologers as a portent of good fortune.

Orion's belt

The three belt stars were collectively known by many names in many cultures. Arabic terms include Al Nijād 'the Belt', Al Nasak 'the Line', Al Alkāt 'the Golden Grains or Nuts' and, in modern Arabic, Al Mīzān al H•akk 'the Accurate Scale Beam'. In Chinese mythology they were also known as The Weighing Beam. The belt was also the Three Stars mansion one of the Twenty-eight mansions of the Chinese constellations. It is one of the western mansions of the White Tiger.

In pre-Christian Scandinavia, the belt was known as Frigg's Distaff (Friggerock) or Freyja's distaff. Similarly Jacob's Staff and Peter's Staff were European biblical derived terms, as were the Three Magi, or the Three Kings. Väinämöinen's Scythe (Kalevala) and Kalevan Sword are terms from Finnish mythology.

The Seri people of northwestern Mexico call the three belt stars Hapj (a name denoting a hunter) which consists of three stars: Hap (mule deer), Haamoja (pronghorn), and Mojet (bighorn sheep). Hap is in the middle and has been shot by the hunter; its blood has dripped onto Tiburón Island.