Why does Orion appear to move above the horizon and to the right as the night progresses?

Question

I have been assigned to watch the constellation Orion every two hours and track its motion. How is it moving? Is it the Earth's change of position?

Answer 1

because the earth rotates on an axis

Answer 2

Here's an easy way to show it. First. on a paper, make a model of Orion. Place it over a globe, and rotate the globe on it's axis. Look from your model of Orion toward the globe, and that's the portion of the globe that can see Orion. Your model doesn't have to be perfect, but it will show that the constellation is visible only at certain times, and that the earth, spinning about it's axis is what makes the constellation visible.

If you don't have a globe, you could use a basketball or beach ball, drawing some continents on it with chalk or a marker. You could hold the ball in a bowl or something that allowed you to turn it.

Answer 3

Please do observe for a whole night. You will see that it will appear to move both ways. And make sure to describe it as North or South not right and left.