Scorpius

Short description: Zodiac constellation in the southern celestial hemisphere

ScorpiusConstellation

List of stars in Scorpius

Abbreviation| Sco
Genitive| Scorpii
Pronunciation| /ˈskɔːrpiəs/, genitive /ˈskɔːrpiaɪ/
Symbolism| the Scorpion
Right ascension|  16.8875h
Declination| −30.7367°
Quadrant| SQ3
Area| 497 sq. deg. (33rd)
Main stars| 18
Bayer/Flamsteed
stars| 47
Stars with planets| 14
Stars brighter than 3.00m| 13
Stars within 10.00 pc (32.62 ly)| 3
Brightest star| Antares (α Sco) (0.96m)
Messier objects| 4
Meteor showers| Alpha Scorpiids
Omega Scorpiids
Bordering
constellations| Sagittarius
Ophiuchus
Libra
Lupus
Norma
Ara
Corona Australis
Visible at latitudes between +40° and −90°.
Best visible at 21:00 (9 p.m.) during the month of July.

Scorpius is a zodiac constellation located in the Southern celestial hemisphere, where it sits near the center of the Milky Way, between Libra to the west and Sagittarius to the east. Scorpius is an ancient constellation that pre-dates the Greeks;[1] it is one of the 48 constellations identified by the Greek astronomer Ptolemy in the second century. Its old astronomical symbol is  (♏︎).[citation needed]

## Contents

* 1 Notable features
* 1.1 Stars
* 1.2 Deep-sky objects
* 2 Mythology
* 2.1 Origins
* 2.2 Astrology
* 3 Culture
* 4 See also
* 5 References
* 6 External links

## Notable features

### Stars

The constellation Scorpius as it can be seen by naked eye (with constellation lines drawn in).

Scorpius contains many bright stars, including Antares (α Sco), "rival of Mars," so named because of its distinct reddish hue; β1 Sco (Graffias or Acrab), a triple star; δ Sco (Dschubba, "the forehead"); θ Sco (Sargas, of sumerian origin[2]); ν Sco (Jabbah); ξ Sco; π Sco (Fang); σ Sco (Alniyat); and τ Sco (Paikauhale).

Marking the tip of the scorpion's curved tail are λ Sco (Shaula) and υ Sco (Lesath), whose names both mean "sting." Given their proximity to one another, λ Sco and υ Sco are sometimes referred to as the Cat's Eyes.[3]

The constellation's bright stars form a pattern like a longshoreman's hook. Most of them are massive members of the nearest OB association: Scorpius–Centaurus.[4]

The star δ Sco, after having been a stable 2.3 magnitude star, flared in July 2000 to 1.9 in a matter of weeks. It has since become a variable star fluctuating between 2.0 and 1.6.[5] This means that at its brightest it is the second brightest star in Scorpius.

Stars of the constellation by distance (red-green 3D view) and the brightness of each star (star size)

U Scorpii is the fastest known nova, with a period of about 10 years.[6]

The close pair of stars ω1 Scorpii and ω² Scorpii are an optical double, which can be resolved by the unaided eye. One is a yellow giant,[7] while the other is a blue B-type star in the Scorpius-Centaurus Association.[8]

The star once designated γ Sco (despite being well within the boundaries of Libra) is today known as σ Lib. Moreover, the entire constellation of Libra was considered to be claws of Scorpius (Chelae Scorpionis) in Ancient Greek times, with a set of scales held aloft by Astraea (represented by adjacent Virgo) being formed from these westernmost stars during later Greek times. The division into Libra was formalised during Roman times.[citation needed]

### Deep-sky objects

Scorpius and the Milky Way, with M4 and M80 visible near Antares, M6 and M7 just below centre, NGC 6124 at the top of the frame, and NGC 6334 just above centre.

Due to its location straddling the Milky Way, this constellation contains many deep-sky objects such as the open clusters Messier 6 (the Butterfly Cluster) and Messier 7 (the Ptolemy Cluster), NGC 6231 (by ζ² Sco), and the globular clusters Messier 4 and Messier 80.

Messier 80 (NGC 6093) is a globular cluster of magnitude 7.3, 33,000 light-years from Earth. It is a compact Shapley class II cluster; the classification indicates that it is highly concentrated and dense at its nucleus. M80 was discovered in 1781 by Charles Messier. It was the site of a rare discovery in 1860 when Arthur von Auwers discovered the nova T Scorpii.[9]

NGC 6302, also called the Bug Nebula, is a bipolar planetary nebula. NGC 6334, also known as the Cat's Paw Nebula, is an emission nebula and star-forming region.

The heart of Scorpius. M4 is visible near the left of center. Portions of the Rho Ophiuchi cloud complex are illuminated by Antares and the other neighboring stars.

## Mythology

Scorpius as depicted in Urania's Mirror, a set of constellation cards published in London c.1825.

In Greek mythology, several myths associated with Scorpius attribute it to Orion. According to one version, Orion boasted to the goddess Artemis and her mother, Leto, that he would kill every animal on Earth. Artemis and Leto sent a scorpion to kill Orion.[10] Their battle caught the attention of Zeus, who raised both combatants to the sky to serve as a reminder for mortals to curb their excessive pride. In another version of the myth, Artemis' twin brother, Apollo, was the one who sent the scorpion to kill Orion after the hunter earned the goddess' favor by admitting she was better than him. After Zeus raised Orion and the scorpion to the sky, the former hunts every winter but flees every summer when the scorpion comes. In both versions, Artemis asked Zeus to raise Orion.

In a Greek myth without Orion, the celestial scorpion encountered Phaethon while he was driving his father Helios' Sun Chariot.[11]

### Origins

The Babylonians called this constellation MUL.GIR.TAB - the 'Scorpion'; the signs can be literally read as 'the (creature with) a burning sting'.[12]

In some old descriptions the constellation of Libra is treated as the Scorpion's claws. Libra was known as the Claws of the Scorpion in Babylonian (zibānītu (compare Arabic zubānā)) and in Greek (χηλαι).[13]

### Astrology

Main page: Unsolved:Scorpio (astrology)

The Western astrological sign Scorpio differs from the astronomical constellation. Astronomically, the sun is in Scorpius for just six days, from November 23 to November 28. Much of the difference is due to the constellation Ophiuchus, which is used by few astrologers. Scorpius corresponds to the Hindu nakshatras Anuradha, Jyeshtha, and Mula.[citation needed]

## Culture

* The Javanese people of Indonesia call this constellation Banyakangrem ("the brooded swan")[14] or Kalapa Doyong ("leaning coconut tree")[15] due to the shape similarity.
* In Hawaii, Scorpius is known as the demigod Maui's Fishhook [16] or Ka Makau Nui o Māui (meaning the Big Fishhook of Māui) and the name of the fishhook was Manaiakalani.[17]
* Scorpius was divided into two asterisms which were used by Bugis sailors for navigation. The northern part of Scorpius (α, β, γ or σ Lib, δ, ε, ζ, μ, σ and τ Scorpii) was called bintoéng lambarué, meaning "skate stars". The southern part of Scorpius (η, θ, ι, κ, λ and ν Scorpii) was called bintoéng balé mangngiwéng, meaning "shark stars".[18]

## See also

* Scorpius (Chinese astronomy)

## References

1. ↑ Knight, J.D.. "Constellation Scorpius - The Constellations on Sea and Sky". http://www.seasky.org/constellations/constellation-scorpius.html.
2. ↑ Burnham, Robert (1978-01-01) (in en). Burnham's Celestial Handbook: An Observer's Guide to the Universe Beyond the Solar System. Courier Corporation. ISBN 978-0-486-23673-5. https://books.google.com/books?id=PJzIt3SIlkUC&pg=PA1676.
3. ↑ Fred Schaaf (Macmillan 1988) 40 Nights to Knowing the Sky: A Night-by-Night Sky-Watching Primer, p. 79 (ISBN:9780805046687).
4. ↑ Preibisch, T.; Mamajek, E. (2009). "The Nearest OB Association: Scorpius–Centaurus (Sco OB2)". Handbook of Star-Forming Regions 2: 0. Bibcode: 2008hsf2.book..235P.
5. ↑ "Delta Scorpii Still Showing Off". http://www.skyandtelescope.com/news/3307781.html?page=1&c=y.
6. ↑ "AAVSO: Variable Star of the Season: U Scorpii". http://www.aavso.org/vstar/vsots/.
7. ↑ Houk, N.; Smith-Moore, M. (1988), Michigan Catalogue of Two-dimensional Spectral Types for the HD Stars. Declinations -26°.0 to -12°.0, 4, Bibcode: 1988mcts.book.....H.
8. ↑ Jilinski, E. et al. (March 2006), "Radial velocity measurements of B stars in the Scorpius-Centaurus association", Astronomy and Astrophysics 448 (3): 1001–1006, doi:10.1051/0004-6361:20041614, Bibcode: 2006A&A...448.1001J.
9. ↑ Levy 2005, pp. 166-167.
10. ↑ Scholia on Homer, Iliad 18.486 citing Pherecydes
11. ↑ Scorpio - The Legend and Myth
12. ↑ Woolfolk, Joanna (2011). Scorpio. Lanham: Taylor Trade Publishing. pp. 81. ISBN 978-1589795600.
13. ↑ Babylonian Star-lore by Gavin White, Solaria Pubs, 2008 page 175
14. ↑ Daldjoeni, N (1984). "Pranatamangsa, the javanese agricultural calendar – Its bioclimatological and sociocultural function in developing rural life". The Environmentalist 4: 15–18. doi:10.1007/BF01907286.
15. ↑ "Jejak Langkah Astronomi di Indonesia". 2 January 2011. http://langitselatan.com/2011/01/02/jejak-langkah-astronomi-di-indonesia/.
16. ↑ "Hawaiian Astronomical Society, Constellations: Scorpius - The Scorpion who Killed Orion". http://hawastsoc.org/deepsky/sco/.
17. ↑ "Hawaiian Star Lines and Names for Stars - Star Line 3. Manaiakalani". http://pvs.kcc.hawaii.edu/ike/hookele/hawaiian_star_lines.html#manaiakalani.
18. ↑ Kelley, David H.; Milone, Eugene F.; Aveni, A.F. (2011). Exploring Ancient Skies: A Survey of Ancient and Cultural Astronomy. New York, New York: Springer. p. 344. ISBN 978-1-4419-7623-9. https://books.google.com/books?id=ILBuYcGASxcC&pg=PA307.

* Levy, David H. (2005). Deep Sky Objects. Prometheus Books. ISBN 1-59102-361-0. https://archive.org/details/deepskyobjects00davi.
* Ian Ridpath and Wil Tirion (2007). Stars and Planets Guide, Collins, London. ISBN:978-0-00-725120-9. Princeton University Press, Princeton. ISBN:978-0-691-13556-4.

## External links

| Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Scorpius (category)

|

* The Deep Photographic Guide to the Constellations: Scorpius
* The clickable Scorpius
* Star Tales – Scorpius
* Warburg Institute Iconographic Database (medieval and early modern images of Scorpius)

* v
* t
* e

Stars of Scorpius

Bayer|

* α (Antares)
* β (Acrab)
* δ (Dschubba)
* ε (Larawag)
* ζ1
* ζ2
* η
* θ (Sargas)
* ι1
* ι2
* κ (Girtab)
* λ (Shaula)
* μ1 (Xamidimura)
* μ2 (Pipirima)
* ν (Jabbah)
* ξ
* ο
* π (Fang)
* ρ (Iklil)
* σ (Alniyat)
* τ (Paikauhale)
* υ (Lesath)
* χ
* ψ
* ω1 (Piri-ere-ua)
* ω2 (Piri-ere-ua)
* G (Fuyue)
* H (β Nor)
* N (α Nor)
* Q

Flamsteed|

* 1 (b)
* 2 (A)
* 3
* 4
* 11
* 12 (c1)
* 13 (c2)
* 16
* 18
* 22 (i)
* 25
* 27

Variable|

* T
* U
* RR
* RS
* RV
* RY
* RZ
* AH
* AI
* AK
* AR
* BM
* CL
* FQ
* HK
* KQ
* V393
* V453
* V455
* V482
* V500
* V636
* V701
* V703
* V718
* V745
* V760
* V856
* V861
* V866
* V893
* V900
* V905
* V906
* V907
* V911
* V913
* V915
* V918
* V919
* V921
* V922
* V923
* V929
* V933
* V949
* V951
* V952
* V957
* V965
* V970
* V973
* V975
* V992
* V1003
* V1007
* V1018
* V1026
* V1034
* V1036
* V1040
* V1051
* V1058
* V1068
* V1073 (k)
* V1074
* V1075
* V1077
* V1094
* V1104
* V1186
* V1187
* V1280
* V1292
* V1294
* V1309
* VVV-WIT-07

HR|

* 5906
* 5910
* 5934
* 5965
* 5969
* 5973
* 5996
* 5998
* 5999
* 6000
* 6001
* 6003
* 6006
* 6007
* 6012
* 6015
* 6017
* 6044
* 6051
* 6053
* 6054
* 6061
* 6070 (d)
* 6076
* 6077
* 6078
* 6080
* 6094
* 6097
* 6100
* 6106
* 6122
* 6145
* 6160
* 6178
* 6192
* 6206
* 6209
* 6210
* 6211
* 6214
* 6218
* 6221
* 6244
* 6260
* 6266
* 6272
* 6273
* 6282
* 6298
* 6311
* 6316
* 6331
* 6338
* 6344
* 6366
* 6371
* 6381
* 6382
* 6389
* 6398
* 6403
* 6405
* 6409
* 6420
* 6454
* 6456
* 6460
* 6470
* 6501
* 6503
* 6517
* 6523
* 6539
* 6557
* 6558
* 6583
* 6587
* 6597
* 6613
* 6628
* 6643
* 6648
* 6649
* 6651
* 6653
* 6657
* 6658
* 6668
* 6671
* 6675
* 6678
* 6682
* 6683

HD|

* 143567
* 144432
* 145377
* 146436
* 150248
* 150420
* 152424
* 153234
* 153950
* 155985
* 158042
* 159868
* 162020

Gliese|

* Gliese 618
* Gliese 667
* Gliese 682

Other|

* CD -35 11760
* CD -38 10980
* EPIC 204278916
* EPIC 204376071
* GCRT J1745−3009
* GRO J1655-40
* GSC 06214-00210
* GX 340+0
* GX 349+2
* H1-36
* H1743-322
* HIP 79431
* IGR J17091-3624
* IGR J17252−3616
* IRAS 17163−3907
* K2-33
* LSS 4067
* MOA-2008-BLG-310L
* MXB 1735-44
* OAO 1657-415
* OGLE-2005-BLG-071L
* OGLE-2005-BLG-390L
* OGLE-2006-BLG-109L
* OGLE-2007-BLG-368L
* Oph 162225-240515
* Pismis 24-1
* PSR B1620−26
* PSR B1706−44
* PSR B1737−30
* PSR J1614−2230
* Rapid Burster
* 1RXS J160929.1−210524
* 1RXS J170849.0−400910
* Scorpius X-1
* Th 28
* 4U 1700-37
* 4U 1702-42
* 4U 1705-44
* 4U 1724-307
* 4U 1728-34
* 4U 1746-371
* UScoCTIO 108
* WASP-17
* WR 86
* WR 93b
* Wray 17-96
* XTE J1720−318
* XTE J1739−302
* XTE J1751−305

* List

* v
* t
* e

The 88 modern constellations

* Andromeda
* Antlia
* Apus
* Aquarius
* Aquila
* Ara
* Aries
* Auriga
* Boötes
* Caelum
* Camelopardalis
* Cancer
* Canes Venatici
* Canis Major
* Canis Minor
* Capricornus
* Carina
* Cassiopeia
* Centaurus
* Cepheus
* Cetus
* Chamaeleon
* Circinus
* Columba
* Coma Berenices
* Corona Australis
* Corona Borealis
* Corvus
* Crater
* Crux
* Cygnus
* Delphinus
* Dorado
* Draco
* Equuleus
* Eridanus
* Fornax
* Gemini
* Grus
* Hercules
* Horologium
* Hydra
* Hydrus
* Indus
* Lacerta
* Leo
* Leo Minor
* Lepus
* Libra
* Lupus
* Lynx
* Lyra
* Mensa
* Microscopium
* Monoceros
* Musca
* Norma
* Octans
* Ophiuchus
* Orion
* Pavo
* Pegasus
* Perseus
* Phoenix
* Pictor
* Pisces
* Piscis Austrinus
* Puppis
* Pyxis
* Reticulum
* Sagitta
* Sagittarius
* Scorpius
* Sculptor
* Scutum
* Serpens
* Sextans
* Taurus
* Telescopium
* Triangulum
* Triangulum Australe
* Tucana
* Ursa Major
* Ursa Minor
* Vela
* Virgo
* Volans
* Vulpecula

* Lists of constellations

* v
* t
* e

Constellation history

* v
* t
* e

The 48 constellations listed by Ptolemy after 150 AD

* Andromeda
* Aquarius
* Aquila
* Ara
* Argo Navis
* Aries
* Auriga
* Boötes
* Cancer
* Canis Major
* Canis Minor
* Capricornus
* Cassiopeia
* Centaurus
* Cepheus
* Cetus
* Corona Australis
* Corona Borealis
* Corvus
* Crater
* Cygnus
* Delphinus
* Draco
* Equuleus
* Eridanus
* Gemini
* Hercules
* Hydra
* Leo
* Lepus
* Libra
* Lupus
* Lyra
* Ophiuchus
* Orion
* Pegasus
* Perseus
* Pisces
* Piscis Austrinus
* Sagitta
* Sagittarius
* Scorpius
* Serpens
* Taurus
* Triangulum
* Ursa Major
* Ursa Minor
* Virgo

* v
* t
* e

The 41 additional constellations added in the 16th and 17th centuries

* Vespucci or Corsalius early 16c: Crux
* Triangulum Australe
* Vopel 1536: Coma Berenices
* Keyser & de Houtman 1596: Apus
* Chamaeleon
* Dorado
* Grus
* Hydrus
* Indus
* Musca
* Pavo
* Phoenix
* Tucana
* Volans
* Plancius 1613: Camelopardalis
* Columba
* Monoceros
* Habrecht 1621: Reticulum
* Hevelius 1683: Canes Venatici
* Lacerta
* Leo Minor
* Lynx
* Scutum
* Sextans
* Vulpecula
* de Lacaille 1763: Antlia
* Caelum
* Carina
* Circinus
* Fornax
* Horologium
* Mensa
* Microscopium
* Norma
* Octans
* Pictor
* Puppis
* Pyxis
* Sculptor
* Telescopium
* Vela

* v
* t
* e

Obsolete constellations (including Ptolemy's Argo Navis)

* Anser
* Antinous
* Apes
* Argo Navis
* Asterion
* Cancer Minor
* Cerberus
* Chara
* Custos Messium
* Felis
* Frederici Honores/Gloria Frederici
* Gallus
* Globus Aerostaticus
* Jordanus
* Lilium
* Lochium Funis
* Machina Electrica
* Malus
* Mons Maenalus
* Musca Borealis
* Noctua
* Officina Typographica
* Polophylax
* Psalterium Georgianum/Harpa Georgii
* Quadrans Muralis
* Ramus Pomifer
* Robur Carolinum
* Sceptrum Brandenburgicum
* Sceptrum et Manus Iustitiae
* Solarium
* Rangifer/Tarandus
* Taurus Poniatovii
* Telescopium Herschelii
* Testudo
* Tigris
* Triangulum Minus
* Turdus Solitarius
* Vespa
* Vultur cadens
* Vultur volans

* obsolete constellation names

* Apis
* Phoenicopterus
* Serpentarius
* Xiphias

* v
* t
* e

The Zodiac

Astrological signs|

* Aries
* Taurus
* Gemini
* Cancer
* Leo
* Virgo
* Libra
* Scorpio
* Sagittarius
* Capricorn
* Aquarius
* Pisces

Western astrology|

* House
* Triplicity
* Mode
* Cardinal
* Fixed
* Mutable
* Binary
* Positive
* Negative

Related|

* Ophiuchus
* Astronomy
* Axial precession
* Constellations of the Ecliptic
* Ecliptic coordinate system
* Planets in astrology
* Zodiacal light

Coordinates:  16h 53m 15s, −30° 44′ 12″

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