Orion and the Star Betelgeuse – Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice!
The Constellation Orion
The constellation Orion has existed in human culture for a long time. It is named after Orion, the hunter in Greek mythology. In essence, the constellation forms a man with a sword/club and belt (the belt of Orion – three stars in a row which are easily recognizable) standing with a shield ready for battle. However, there is one star (the second brightest and a red giant about 500 to 600 light years away) called Betelgeuse that serves as the armpit of the constellation. It’s quite fitting that a Hollywood movie should be titled by this “armpit” in the sky.
Hollywood Movie
Beetlejuice, a well known Hollywood movie from 1988, is a play on the star’s name Betelguese. In the movie, starring Michael Keaton, Geena Davis, Alec Baldwin, and Winona Ryder, a ghost played by Michael Keaton haunts a house and keeps trying to get people to say his name (Beetlejuice) three times so he will be conjured up from the depths of ghostland. Also, the name of the movie is fitting for the “armpit” reference because of the weirdness of the movie. Even though the movie was a financial success, there wasn’t a sequel made. Maybe I can conjure up a sequel by saying Beetlejuice! Beetlejuice! Beetlejuice! Nope. It didn’t work.
You can read more about Betelgeuse at space.com.