These stars are:
Mintaka.................. O9.5 Giant 460 parsecs Alnilam.................. B0 Supergiant 470 parsecs Alnitak.................. O9.5 Giant 450 parsecsThey are separated by about 2 degrees which at a distance of 460 parsecs is 16 parsecs. The range of distances is between 450 - 470 parsecs or 10 parsecs at a mean distance of 460 parsecs from us. So, along the line of sight they are spread out at about 10 parsecs from each other, and across our line of sight they are about 16 parsecs from each other, so that by the pythagorean theorem D = ( 10^2 + 16^2)^1/2 = 19 parsecs. These stars are, then, about 19 parsecs or 60 light years from each other as the crow flies. D