The Fixed Stars

Rigel

Beta Orionis, Rijl al-Jauza

The foot of the giant, from the Arabic rijl al-jauza. It stands at about 17° Gemini (tropical).

The bright forward foot, planted in the celestial river, first to stride.

The brightest star of Orion, a blue-white supergiant at the hunter's forward foot, which the old charts set at the edge of Eridanus, the river. Robson gives it the nature of Jupiter and Saturn and one of the most generous delineations in his book, benevolence, honor, riches, happiness, renown, and a gift for invention and mechanical skill. It is the builder's and teacher's star among Orion's lights, splendor put to work.