Bellatrix
(31” L x 32.5” H x 12” W)
The StarSentient™ sculpture, Bellatrix, is named after the hot, blue-white giant star of this name, marking the western shoulder of Orion, The Hunter (Giant), and ranks amongst the constellation’s most prominent lights. It lies approximately 250 light-years from Earth. It has a radius of about 5-6 times that of the Sun, yet it shines with extraordinary power—radiating roughly 6,000–7,000 times the Sun’s luminosity. This is due to its very high surface temperature of about 22,000 K (Kelvin). Bellatrix is classified as a B-type giant, meaning it has already evolved off the main sequence and is rapidly burning through its nuclear fuel. Its name comes from Latin, meaning “female warrior,” a title bestowed on it during the Renaissance. Scientifically, Bellatrix is important as an example of a relatively massive, younger star in an advanced evolutionary stage, offering astronomers insight into stellar aging, mass loss, and the transition period that leads toward the supernova phase.
Many emotions moved me in creating Bellatrix, but its name's meaning dominated the configuration. All smooth glassiness and fiber optic spheres with a high gloss finish have been incorporated into it.
