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Alnitak

Alnitak, also known as Zeta Orionis, is a multiple star system in the constellation Orion. It is the easternmost star in Orion's Belt and one of the brightest stars in the region. The system lies at roughly 800 light-years (about 250 parsecs) from the Sun and is a prominent feature of the Orion constellation, visible to the naked eye in dark skies.

The brightest component, Alnitak A, is a hot blue supergiant with a spectral type around O9.7 Ib.

Alnitak resides in the Orion OB1 association, within the wider Orion molecular cloud complex. Its radiation

In observational astronomy, Alnitak serves as a bright, easily identified beacon in the Belt of Orion and

It
has
a
high
luminosity
and
strong
stellar
winds,
which
shape
its
immediate
surroundings.
Alnitak
is
known
to
have
additional,
fainter
companions,
making
the
system
a
multiple-star
arrangement
rather
than
a
single
star.
The
exact
number
and
orbits
of
these
companions
have
been
refined
by
ongoing
astrometric
and
spectroscopic
observations.
and
winds
illuminate
nearby
nebulae
and
dust
clouds,
contributing
to
the
region’s
rich
star-forming
environment.
The
star’s
Arabic-derived
name,
Alnitak,
translates
to
“the
girdle,”
reflecting
its
role
as
part
of
the
belt
of
Orion.
is
frequently
referenced
in
studies
of
massive
star
evolution,
stellar
winds,
and
the
local
interstellar
medium.