Today we review all the mysteries of the Scorpio Constellation. Learn how to find it and discover the secrets it hides.
What is the Scorpio Constellation?
The constellation Scorpius is a southern constellation that appears higher in the evening sky in the months around May. It is one of the twelve members of the zodiac, represented as a scorpion. The Sun passes through it each year for one week in late November.
Although the Sun only spends a few days in Scorpius each year, it is a moderately sized constellation. The northern end of the constellation representing the claws of the scorpion is a narrow strip of sky, which the Sun takes little time to cross.
The brightest star in this area of the sky is Antares, which marks the head of the scorpion. South of this, the curvilinear tail of the scorpion is marked by a series of second-magnitude stars.
The plane of the Milky Way passes through the southern reaches of Scorpius, and is rich in star clusters, including 18 open clusters brighter than tenth magnitude. Located next to Sagittarius, where the center of the Milky Way lies, Scorpius also has several bright globular clusters.
How to locate the constellation Scorpius
How to locate the constellation Scorpius. For nighttime viewing, July and August are the peak months for observing this wonderful constellation. In the Northern Hemisphere, we associate the ruby star Antares, the rival of Mars, with the warm summer season. As the summer season wanes, the fading of Antares in the southwestern twilight foreshadows the cooler days of autumn.
In early July, in both the northern and southern hemispheres, Scorpius rises to its highest point in the surrounding sky in the evening hours. Because the stars return to the same place in the sky about half as early each passing week, look for the celestial Scorpio in mid-July evening hours to peak.
Scorpio’s Position
As seen from mid-northern latitudes, such as in the central U.S., Scorpius never rises high in the sky, but rather moves along the horizon, so a clear view to the south is needed to see this constellation in its entirety. From the northern states of the United States and most of Canada, Scorpion’s Tail remains at least partially submerged below the horizon, but its brightest star, Antares, can be seen from as far north as southern Alaska.
The sun’s passage in front of Scorpius. Given the great prominence of Scorpius to the eye, it is ironic that the sun spends less time in front of Scorpius than any other constellation in the zodiac. Each year, the sun shines in the constellation Scorpio for one week, from November 22 through November 29. If these dates seem to conflict with what you read in the horoscope pages, remember that astrologers are referring to the sign of Scorpio, not the constellation Scorpius.
Main stars in the constellation of Scorpio
- Graffias or Acrab is actually a multiple star system consisting of six stars, the system is composed of two parts known as Beta1 and Beta2, each part consists of three stars, although the whole system is collectively known as Beta Scorpii.
- Dschubba also known as Delta Scorpii, is a multiple star system consisting of three and possibly four stars, the primary star is a blue giant about 15 times more massive than the sun.
- Alniyat also known as Sigma Scorpii, (Alniyat is also the traditional name given to Tau Scorpii, the star directly below Antares), Alniyat is a four star system about 700 light years from Earth, the primary star is a blue giant about 13 times larger in diameter than the sun.
- Antares also known as Alpha Scorpii, is a two star system 550 light years from Earth, it is the brightest star in the constellation and one of the brightest stars in the night sky, the primary star is a red supergiant 850 times larger in diameter than the sun.
- Sargas also known as Theta Scorpii, is a white giant 300 light-years from Earth with a radius about 25 times larger than the sun.
- Lesath also known as Upsilon Scorpii, is a blue subgiant about 600 light-years from Earth with surface temperatures about 4 times higher than the sun.
- Shaula also known as Lambda Scorpii, is a three star system about 700 light years from Earth and the second brightest star in the constellation, due to its proximity to Lesath in the night sky, the bright pair has earned the nickname “Cat’s Eyes”.
Meaning of the constellation Scorpio in other cultures.
The constellation Scorpius has intrigued people for centuries, not only because of its distinctive shape, but also because it is one of the brightest constellations in the sky. The name is Latin for scorpion, or literally translated as “the creature with the fiery sting.” However, Scorpius is not a scorpion for everyone.
The Javanese people of Indonesia call this constellation Banyakangrem, meaning “the hatched swan” or Kalapa Doyong, meaning “leaning coconut tree“. In Hawaii, it is known as the demigod Maui’s Fishhook. In Chinese mythology, the constellation was part of the Celestial Dragon. Also in the northern hemisphere, Scorpius is found near the southern horizon; in the southern hemisphere, it is high in the sky near the center of the Milky Way.
Scorpio in mythology
According to star lore, the sting of the Scorpion caused the death of Orion the mighty hunter. So when the gods gave the Scorpion and Orion their final resting places in the high heavens, they made sure to place the archenemies at opposite ends of the sky. That’s why you can never see these two constellations in the same sky together.
Scorpius and Orion are often intertwined in Greek mythology. According to one myth, Orion boasted that he would kill all the animals on earth. The god slayer Artemis and her mother, Leto, sent a scorpion to kill Orion. Zeus put the scorpion in the sky after winning the battle. In another myth, the god Apollo, Artemis’ twin brother, was enraged and sent a scorpion to attack Orion because he claimed to be a better hunter than Artemis. Zeus put Orion and Scorpion in the sky, but they are visible at different times of the year.
In astrology, which is not a science, the constellation is called Scorpius. It is the eighth sign of the zodiac and represents those born between October 24 and November 22. Traits of those born under the sign are said to include determination and loyalty.
In summary: The Scorpio constellation is easy to recognize at a glance because it resembles its namesake. Prominent stars include Antares the Heart of the Scorpion, and Shaula and Lesath in the Tail of the Scorpion (The Stinger). The star cluster M4 can be seen right next to Antares. You can see M6 and M7 near the tail of the Scorpion. In the sky tradition.
Myths about Scorpio
Scorpions have played an important role in mythology since the earliest times, and many Scorpion goddesses and gods appear in the myths of ancient cultures.
- In Mesopotamia, the Scorpion goddess was Ishihara. She was the Goddess of Love and was often identified with Ishtar as a fertility goddess.
- Chelamma is a Hindu Scorpion goddess who was worshipped along with the tantric goddess Kolaramma.
In Aztec mythology, Malinalxochitl, the witch goddess, was the goddess of snakes, scorpions and desert insects. - The ancient Egyptians believed that Serqet, the friend of the dead, had power over poisonous snakes and scorpions and could send them to punish those of whom she did not approve.
Hedet, also an Egyptian scorpion goddess, was the daughter of Ra. She was depicted with the head of a scorpion, nursing a baby. - Ta-Bitjet is also an ancient scorpion goddess found in Egyptian mythology.
- The Aqrabuamelu were scorpion men who guarded the entrance to Kurnugi, the land of darkness in Babylonian mythology.
- In ancient Egyptian mythology, Seth, the God of Chaos, was a scorpion god and brother of Nephthys, the queen of the Land of the Dead.
- Tiamat, a Babylonian goddess of chaos, created scorpion men to fight a war against the younger gods for the betrayal of her companion Apsu.
- The Tzitzimime were scorpion men mentioned in Aztec myth. These scorpion men were considered spirits of gods cast from the sky.
There are many others, but only the above reveal that there is no doubt that the scorpion was an important animal in ancient times and was worshipped by many cultures.
