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Cairnbaan

orion

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has anyone else noticed the similarity of the arrangement of markings at cairnbaan with the constellation of orion?

http://www.themodernantiquarian.com/post/40809
http://science.hq.nasa.gov/kids/images/orion.gif
Which way up?

If there were only three rings showing a reasonably accurate match for Orion's belt then some significance might be inferred, but if you pick three out of many then a match is almost certainly coincidental.

anyone know what orion looked like a few thousand years ago?

Turn Rhiannon's second link 90 degrees counterclockwise, which is more or less the postion Orion has as it's rising this time of year. It's then a pretty good match between the three "belt" stars and the three on the right in the photo. The biggest ring at lower left corresponds nicely with Betelgeuse, Orion's right shoulder (upper left of the two biggest in the drawing). The problem is the sword stars: they're a very prominent part of the constellation and not present at Cairnbaan at all.

You do know that the medieval Arabs called the two bright, close stars in the "sword" "the jewels at the base of the hilt"? Hmmm...