Zodiacal constellation Scorpio. Scorpio - southern zodiac constellation Double star in the constellation Scorpio

The constellation Scorpio is located entirely in the Milky Way. The sun enters this constellation starting on November 23 and already on the 29th leaves it, passing the path in the shortest time. After leaving the constellation Scorpio, the Sun moves into a constellation that is not zodiacal. Thus, another 20 days are added to the time of his reign.

Screenshot of the constellation from the planetarium program

The constellation Scorpio does not rise very high above the horizon due to its southern location. In mid-latitudes, the constellation's main star by name can be found near the climax (at its highest point above the horizon). It is located in this period of time exactly in the south. The easiest way to find Scorpio is with the help of Virgo, taking the southeast and passing through Libra.

The constellation Scorpio has many bright stars, which can be combined to create a pattern that looks a lot like a scorpion. The brightest star in the constellation is Antares. Next are the notable stars named Akrab and Shaula. Available in Scorpio and under the name Scorpio X-1. Star systems can also be seen in the constellation using even a small telescope.

Stars

Antares- the brightest luminary, which is in Scorpio. Translated from Greek means "rival of Ares". This star is located right in the heart of Scorpio. It is variable (brightness varies from 0.86 to 1.05 magnitudes) red, which is visually very much like a planet (Ares - Mars). The diameter of this star is 700 times the diameter of our Sun, and it shines with a brightness 9000 times higher than that of the Sun. Antares is a binary system. Looking closely through a telescope, you can see a blood red giant with a less bright neighbor that has a bluish light, but in contrast to the monster neighbor, it appears to be green.

Star Cluster M4 near Antares and Ro Ophiuchus

Acrab- the luminary, which the ancient Greeks saw and called Rafias. It is a binary system that has components with brightness of 2.6 and 4.9 magnitudes.

Shaula- a star that is at the tip of the constellation's tail. Its name comes from Arabic and means its direct location, namely "sting".

Neutron star Scorpio X-1 has a hot white satellite and is a very powerful discrete X-ray source.

New Scorpio is a system of stars that consists of seven bright objects.

Other objects

Recently, a candidate for a black hole was discovered in the constellation. There are open clusters of bright stars M6, M7 and NGC 6231 and globular clusters called M4 and M80 that can be easily seen with binoculars.

Asterisms

The constellation has an asterism called Scorpio's Tail. It usually begins with Antares (α) and includes τ, ε, μ, ζ, η, θ, ι, κ, λ, and ν.

Cat's eyes are an asterism that is located at the very end of the tail and consists of two stars.

Story

Constellation in ancient books

This constellation is included in the Almagest catalog. In Aztec astronomy, this combination of luminaries was called Kolotl, which means Scorpio in translation.

In the west, entirely in the Milky Way, bordered by Ophiuchus to the north and the Altar to the south. The Sun enters the constellation Scorpio on November 23, but already on November 29 leaves it (this constellation the Sun passes in the shortest time) in order to move to the non-diacal constellation Ophiuchus for 20 days. Many bright stars outline the head, body and tail of the "scorpion". The brightest stars: Antares - 0.8m, Shaula - 1.6m and Sargas - 1.9m. The best observation conditions are in May-June. The constellation is visible entirely in southern and partly in central Europe.

Antares

The brightest star Antares(α Scorpio), which in Greek means "rival of Ares (Mars)", is located in the "heart of a scorpion." It is a red supergiant with negligible brightness variability (from 0.86 to 1.06 magnitude); in brightness and color, this star is indeed very similar to Mars. Its diameter is about 700 times greater than that of the Sun, and its luminosity is 9000 times greater than that of the Sun. Antares is a beautiful visual double: its brighter component is blood red, and its less flamboyant neighbor is bluish white, but it looks green in contrast to its companion.

Asterisms

The characteristic shape of a chain of stars of the constellation is often distinguished as an asterism. Tail(The sting) scorpion... It includes a different number of stars, but it is usually considered to begin with Antares. In this case, asterism consists of stars - α (Antares), τ, ε, μ, ζ, η, θ, ι, κ, λ and ν. Sometimes the stars δ and γ are added to it. In the Arab tradition, asterism is truncated to four stars ι, κ, λ and ν of Scorpio and is called Girtab (also called the star κ of Scorpio, central in asterism).

Alternative modern name - Fishing hook.

A pair of nearby stars λ and υ at the very end Scorpion tail make up asterism Cat's eyes.

Other objects

The star Acrab (β Scorpio) was called by the Greeks Rafias, which means "crab"; it is a bright binary (magnitude 2.6 and 4.9) that can be seen at 50mm. telescope. At the tip of the "scorpion's tail" is Shaula (λ Scorpio), translated from Arabic - a sting. The most powerful discrete X-ray source in the sky, Scorpio X-1, identified with a hot blue variable star, is found in this constellation; astronomers believe that this is a close binary system, where a neutron star is paired with a normal one. Another interesting star is Nu Scorpio - this system consists of at least 7 components. In the constellation, astronomers recently discovered a candidate for a black hole - GRO J1655-40. Open clusters M 6, M 7 and NGC 6231 are visible in Scorpio, as well as globular clusters M 4 and M 80. It is assumed that the star 1RXS J160929.1-210524 has an unusual planetary system that does not fit into the generally accepted model of planet formation.

Story

Ancient constellation. Included in the catalog of the starry sky "Almagest".

Uranographia "J. E. Bode (Berlin 1801)

click on the image to enlarge it

Constellation Scorpio from the Atlas "Urania's Mirror" (London, 1825)

Mythology

A monstrous creature, possibly the offspring of Gaia, possibly living in the sea and used by Poseidon for terrorist purposes. Or perhaps caused by Artemis from the bowels of Mount Kolona on the island of Chios. Famous for attacking and biting him to death. Or at least made the famous hunter run.

Also, Scorpio as a constellation is not well known for the fact that it was he who frightened Phaethon's horses, they carried and the driver, unable to keep them, paid for it with his life.

Mythology connects the constellations Scorpio and Eridanus with the tragic fate of Phaethon.

Klymene, the daughter of the sea goddess Thetis, was so beautiful that even the radiant god Helios (Sun), who every day rode in his golden chariot high above the Earth, never saw a more beautiful girl than she. He married her, and she bore him a son, brilliant like his father, whom she named Phaethon (which in Greek means "flaming"), but unlike his father, he was not immortal.

For days, Phaethon played with his cousin Epaph, the son of the thunderer Zeus. Once Epaph laughed at Phaethon:

Although you are called Phaethon, you are not the son of Helios,

but the most ordinary mortal!

Like stones, these words fell into the boy's soul. In tears, he ran to seek protection from his mother. She hugged his mother and asked about the reason for the tears. Sobbing, he told her how badly Epaph had offended him.

Klymene stretched out her hands to the sun and exclaimed:

Oh my son! I swear by the radiant Helios, who sees and hears us, that he is your father! May he deprive me of his light, if I do not speak the holy truth! Go to his palace! He will meet you like his own son and confirm my words!

Reassured by the words of his mother, Phaethon went to the palace of Helios. He saw him from afar, seated on a golden throne, but he could not approach him, because the eyes of a mortal could not withstand his blinding light. Helios was very happy with Phaethon, and the radiance around him became even brighter. Phaethon told him that Epaph doubted that Helios was Phaeton's father, and asked that Helios dispel these doubts.

"You are my son! To be sure of this, ask me whatever you want, and I swear by the sacred waters of the Styx, I will fulfill your request!" - said Helios.

Phaethon was delighted and asked Helios to give him a chariot with winged horses for only one day, so that he could ride it across the heavenly expanses.

Hearing this request, Helios darkened, and the radiance around him diminished. He began to admonish his son:

Think, my son, before asking this! Can a mortal man sit on my chariot, because even none of the immortal gods can control it! My winged horses are racing like a whirlwind. You cannot hold the reins and deal with them. And the path is not easy. At first, it is so cool that it will seem to you that you are flying straight up, and when you reach the highest heights, your hair will stand on end if you look at the Earth. Thereafter

horses will rush down to the waters of the ocean ... Give up, my son, from this

desires! Along the way, you will meet various monsters that will frighten both you and the horses. Do you really want to die?

But Phaethon remained adamant and even more persistently begged Helios to give him a chariot. Helios could not break his oath with the sacred waters of the Styx and allowed Phaethon to take the chariot.

Phaethon went to the eastern edge of the Earth, where the golden chariot of Helios was. They harnessed winged wild horses into it. Raised on ragweed and drenched with nectar, the horses snored impatiently and beat their hooves. Full of joy, Phaethon sat down on the chariot and took the reins in his hands. The goddess Eos (Dawn) flung open the golden gates wide, and the horses rushed along the steep road. They rushed faster and faster, and Phaethon no longer had enough strength to hold the reins and control them. And the horses lost their way, because Phaeton himself did not know her. And suddenly a huge, terrible Scorpion, covered with poisonous scales, appeared in front of the horses' muzzles. He directed his deadly sting at the horses and at Phaeton. Phaethon was frightened of this monster, let go of the reins and fell onto the chariot. The horses felt free and rushed from the terrible Scorpio up to the stars, and the chariot rushed, tilting from side to side, and could turn over at any moment.

The goddess Selena (Moon) was frightened when she saw the horses of Helios rushing in the heavens, uncontrollable by anyone. What happened to her brother Helios ?!

Having reached heavenly heights, the horses began to descend swiftly to Earth. The flames from a chariot that sank close to them engulfed the Earth. The fire turned flourishing cities and fertile fields into ashes. Mountains covered with forests caught fire, water boiled in rivers and seas, and clouds of hot steam rose above them. The nymphs were frightened and with crying disappeared into deep caves. Soon both rivers and seas turned into dry, cracked deserts. Death threatened the Earth. Then the goddess Gaia (Earth), shedding tears, prayed to the ruler of Heaven and Earth, the great Thunderer Zeus:

O greatest of gods! Will you allow me to perish, so that the kingdom of your brother Poseidon perishes? Is it possible that all living things should perish in this fire?

Zeus heard the prayer of the goddess Gaia. In an instant, he extinguished the violent fire that burned the Earth. He raised his heavy right hand, threw a flashing lightning and smashed the chariot of fire. The horses of Helios scattered in different directions, and fragments of the chariot scattered across the sky ...

And Phaethon, engulfed in flames, flew to Earth and fell into the Eridan River, far from his homeland. Deep sorrow darkened the radiant Helios. He closed his face and did not appear in the heavens all day.

The Hesperides pulled Phaethon's body out of the Eridanus River and buried it. For a long time, the unfortunate mother of Phaethon Klymene was looking for the body of her deceased son. And when she found his grave, she bitterly mourned him, and with her they mourned Phaethon and the daughter of Klymene - the heliads. Their grief was so great that the gods, taking pity on them, turned them into poplars. They stand on the banks of the Eridan River, bowed heliads-poplars, shedding tears about their brother into the river, which, falling, turn into transparent amber.

Since then, the constellations Scorpio and Eridanus have reminded of the tragic death of Phaethon, who did not listen to the advice of his great father, the radiant Helios.

Scorpio is also known for another myth. He stung the legendary hunter Orion in the heel (see about the constellation). The poisoned man died on the island of Chios.

An area of ​​the sky with many bright stars called Scorpio is located in the southern part of the sky. As you know, this is one of 12. This area covers 497 square degrees. That, we can say, defines it as not the largest, but significant in terms of the occupied area.
The constellation Scorpio is bordered by the Altar and Ophiuchus. It also lies between Libra and Sagittarius. Also adjacent to the Wolf, Nagonnik and South Crown.
Obviously, the name was given to him due to the shape, which resembles the head, body and curved tail of a scorpion.

Myth

According to legend, Zeus had a daughter, Artemis. Although she was a female hunter, she was very touchy and vengeful. She once had an argument with Orion. Then, out of anger, she sent a scorpion to him, which bit him on the heel. In gratitude, Artemis turned the animal into a constellation.

Stars

Alpha in the constellation Scorpio - Antares... Incidentally, its position determines the heart of the animal's figure. In truth, this is a binary system of red and blue-white supergiants.
Beta - multiple grouping of stars Acrab... Often refers to the claws of a scorpion.
Lambda - Shaula is a system with three visible stars. Lambda implies a raised tail.
Delta - Jubba is a luminary with a satellite. Translated means forehead.
Theta belongs to the yellow giants. By analogy with the previous one, it has its own satellite.
Epsilon is a variable giant, and Kappa is Girtab it is a double star.
But, for example, Pi, Nu and Xi of Scorpio are multiple systems.
Iota is expressed by a single evolved star and supergiant.
Sigma, like many in the constellation, is a whole system of luminaries. However, there is Tau - a stellar dwarf with a powerful magnetic field.
However, Upsilon and Eta are subgiants.

To the delight of scientists studying the constellation, it has U Scorpio. How did she get attention? It is one of ten recurring novae known throughout the world. According to astronomers, it is very fast.
At the same time, Scorpio's G is an orange giant.
But Omega consists of two luminaries: a dwarf and a giant. Zeta is also shared with it. It contains one hypergiant and one orange giant.
Ro is expressed by a double luminary with the main element - a subgiant. Interestingly, Mu is not just two stars, but two star systems.
It is obvious that Scorpio contains many complexes of systems. Moreover, there are many individual stars in the constellation. Undoubtedly, each of them is an interesting object in its own way.

I have stars in the sky, but I miss the little lamp not lit in my house.
"Rabindranath Tagore"

Celestial objects

Messier 6, or Butterfly, it is an open cluster of stars. It is likely that the shape resembles a flying insect.
Finally, astronomers have discovered several globular clusters in the part of the sky under consideration. Rightfully, they include Messier 4. It is noteworthy that it was in it that for the first time they were able to single out the stars separately.
Also, for example, they opened Ptolemy Cluster... It received its name in honor of the scientist who discovered it. Although he believed that the object is a nebula. Only later was it classified as a cluster. It is located near the sting.
In addition, the constellation is one of the densely populated globular clusters Messier 80.
In addition, there are nebulae in Scorpio:

• Cat's Paw,
• Butterfly, or Beetle,
• NGC 6072,
• NGC 6357, called War and Peace.

Asterisms constellation Scorpio

The bizarre configuration of bright stars in the tail region is Scorpion sting... It must be assumed that the beginning is taken by the alpha of Scorpio Antares. And the large number of stars forming a sting makes for a more similar and well-defined figure.
Interestingly, in modern astronomy, the Sting is often called With a fishing hook. Probably because the swirling view of the luminaries resembles this element.
In addition, asterism is distinguished in the constellation. Cat's eyes... It is formed by the stars Lamba and Epsilon located at the end of the tail.

Observation

Since the constellation Scorpio in the sky is located close to the center of our galaxy, it is easy to find.
Interestingly, the sun passes through it the fastest. Astronomers have recorded the period of this movement from 23 to 29 November.
But, best time May and June are considered for observation.

We can say with confidence that the southern constellation of Scorpio in the sky is one of the most ancient and famous sites. Incidentally, the bright stars of Scorpio served as a reference point for our ancestors.

The constellation of Scorpio and the Milky Way over the Spanish Peaks. Photo by Martin P. April, 2017

The constellation Scorpio is one of the few in which the configuration of the stars actually justifies the name of the constellation. The brightest stars in the constellation Scorpio form the figure of a huge scorpion with long and terrible claws against the background of the Milky Way.

The brightest star in the constellation Scorpio - Antares - has the first magnitude. It attracts attention with a reddish sheen. In terms of brightness and color, this star competes with the planet Mars, and that is why it got its name (from Ares - Mars).

Antares is a red supergiant. If the sun could be placed in the center of the star, then, in addition to it, the orbits of the planets, including Mars, would also be located there.

San Francisco de Paula, Brazil, 2017 Photo by Egonf Ilter

In the starry sky, Scorpio appears in spring and summer. As soon as the constellation Scorpio rises in the East, the beautiful constellation Orion is out of sight in the West. Scorpio pursues him, and Orion has no place in the May night sky - the formidable Scorpio reigns among the stars.
In ancient Egypt, the Scorpio sign possessed supernatural powers in both legends and religious iconography. Scorpio is found among the secret hieroglyphs, it can be seen on the pharaoh's scepter in the form of Isis. He also takes the form of the goddess - healer and patroness of the departed Selket. Stinging or bewitching, Scorpio at the same time personifies the forces of life and death.

Constellation orion

According to Greek legends, Orion was a young giant, the son of the god of the seas, Poseidon. He was famous as a hunter - powerful, dexterous, courageous and extraordinarily handsome.
Orion boasted that while hunting, he could exterminate all animals in the world.

The golden-haired Apollo, jealous of Orion for the dawn goddess Eos, went to mother-earth Gaia and, not without intent repeating Orion's boast, made her send a monstrous scorpion against him. The giant scorpion killed Orion with its poison, biting him on the heel.
In The Odyssey, Homer narrates this episode:

“How cruel you are, oh gods, how you have surpassed everyone with envy!
You don’t want to let the goddess’s bed lie
They were united with husbands, so that they would be their wives.
So rosy-footed Eos chose Orion for herself.
You, the gods who live an easy life, persecuted him! "

After the death of Orion, Jupiter placed him among the stars. Since then, Orion, with his golden armor and sword in hand, has been one of the brightest and most spectacular constellations of the winter sky.
Jupiter placed Scorpio in the sky in the form of a constellation because he was able to defeat Orion and did not allow the destruction of life on Earth.

So ancient legend narrates that trying to kill life on Earth will die himself, but will not fulfill his plan. And about the eternal triumph of life, about the fact that spring and summer always come to replace winter.

In the sky, this performance continues again and again: both constellations are at such a distance from each other that they sometimes change places. As soon as Scorpio rises in the East, Orion disappears into the sky and drowns in the West in the realm of the dead.

Scorpio is a beautiful constellation covering 497 sq. degrees of heavenly space. It is in Southern hemisphere and pleases everyone with good visibility in May - June. It was recorded by Ptolemy in the 2nd century, and since then people have been observing the heavenly arthropod. Although the first mention of the constellation was 5 thousand years ago, long before the Greek studies of the sky and its inhabitants.

Once the constellation occupied a large area, it included the body, sting and claws of Scorpio. But the Romans defeated it, giving part to Libra.

Scorpio myths

There is a sad but instructive story associated with this constellation. Helios (the sun god) married the daughter of Thetis, the sea mistress. Klymene gave birth to Helios son Phaethon, who was not awarded immortality, and his name meant "flaming".

When the boy grew up, he began to ask his father for permission to ride a fiery chariot, which he dreamed of all his childhood years. The parents dissuaded the young man, but Phaethon insisted. The chariot ride was breathtaking, a dream come true. But unexpectedly the path was blocked by an unprecedented monster - an arthropod scorpion. The young man was taken aback and released the reins. This moment was enough for the horses to realize freedom and rush to the stars.

Before the heavenly gates, the chariot turned back home, to Earth. A great fire began where the fiery horses were racing. Only Zeus managed to extinguish it, destroying the chariot and dispersing the horses. Phaeton fell into the water and drowned.

According to another legend, it follows that the great hunter Orion was in love with Artemis and tried to win her favor by force. In revenge, the beauty sent him a poisonous scorpion, which took the life of an unlucky hunter.

The most beautiful stars of Scorpio

Antares is a bright red supergiant and the first star in Scorpio. Its radius is 883 times greater than that of the Sun, its mass is 18 times, and its brightness is 10 thousand higher than the Sun. Age - 12 million years. Translated from ancient Greek means "rival of Mars". The luminary has a companion, which is smaller and brighter. Antares is the heart of Scorpio.

Shaula is a 3-component star system. It is the second brightest in Scorpio, its age is about 13 million years, and is 700 light years distant from Earth. Translated from Arabic means "tail up".

Acrab is a system of several stars. The name is translated as "scorpion". The largest 2 stars in the system are 10 times the mass of the Sun. They are supposed to explode soon.

Dshubba personifies the forehead of an arthropod and means the same in translation from Arabic. The star is a bright yellow giant about 300 light years distant. It has a smaller satellite.

People born under the sign of Scorpio tend to sting themselves rather than others. They really need understanding and original gifts. Such a gift can be from the virtual Galaxy.