Alnilam (A Place for Us)

prints of the original oil painting by Ken Dahl

Feb 2026

Sometimes fantasy really is better than reality. This alien seascape takes place somewhere in the Alnilam star system. Alnilam is the center star on what we know as Orion's belt. 

A romantic couple enjoy a relaxing evening on the beach. He holds her close, as the warm crackling fire mixed with the sound of incoming waves deepens the special bond between them. Their personal spaceship stands tall on the landing pad above their home - which was hewn into the rocks. A blue giant star named Alnitak illuminates their local world. Two large moss-covered trees near a cliff-crest path overlook it all.

 “All is well”, he whispers. “You are my home.”

I stand in my backyard almost every night between December and March, staring at that constellation, thinking about that lucky couple who have finally found their place among the stars. 

Inspired by the song...

"There's a place for us 
Somewhere a place for us 
Peace and quiet and open air 
Wait for us somewhere."

-          Leonard Bernstein