But our observer may be well satisfied with his instrument and his eye-sight if he can see five with a 3-1/2-inch aperture.[3] A good 3-inch glass shows four distinctly.

But with smaller apertures only three are visible.
The whole neighbourhood of the great nebula will well repay research.
The observer may sweep over it carefully on any dark night with profit.
Above the nebula is the star-cluster 362 H.The star [iota] (double as shown in Plate 3) below the nebula is involved in a strong nebulosity.
And in searching over this region we meet with delicate double, triple, and multiple stars, which make the survey interesting with almost any power that may be applied.
Above the nebula is the star [sigma], a multiple star.

To an observer with a good 3-1/2-inch glass [sigma] appears as an octuple star.

It is well seen, however, as a fine multiple star with a smaller aperture.
Some of the stars of this group appear to be variable.
The star [rho] Orionis is an unequal, easy double, the components being separated by nearly seven seconds.

The primary is orange, the smaller star smalt-blue (see Plate 3).
The middle star of the belt ([epsilon]) has a distant blue companion.
This star, like [iota], is nebulous.