LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The new year brings a sense of optimism, a chance to make a new start, a new beginning.

It is fitting that the stars and constellations of the first month of the new year, January, are among the most brilliant and beautiful.

Indeed, of the 20 brightest stars in the night sky, the first month of the new year has eight of them!

We begin with Orion the hunter. This magnificent constellation is easily recognized by the four bright stars that represent his shoulders and feet.

Betelgeuse, the ninth brightest star in the sky, represents Orion’s right shoulder. Rigel, the seventh brightest star, represents his left foot.

There are three stars in a line in the middle of Orion – they represent his belt.

Just below his belt is the Great Orion Nebula, one of the most rewarding objects to view through a telescope. This is a huge cloud of dust and gas where new stars are born.

To the east of Orion are Canis Major and Canis Minor. Those names are Latin for “big dog” and “little dog.” These are Orion’s hunting dogs.

Canis Major has the brightest star in the sky, Sirius. Sirius is sometimes called the “Dog Star,” for obvious reasons.

Canis Minor sports Procyon, the eighth brightest star.

Above the little dog lies Gemini the Twins. Two bright stars, Castor and Pollux, mark the head of each twin.

Above and to the west of Orion is Taurus the Bull. Aldebaran, a giant orange star represents the eye of the bull. It’s the 14th brightest star in the sky.

Finally, above Taurus is Auriga the Charioteer. Within Auriga lies Capella, the sixth brightest star.

John Zimmerman is a resident of Lake County, Calif., and has been an amateur astronomer for more than 50 years. For more information about astronomy and local resources, visit his Web site at www.lakecountyskies.com .