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Sky Chart and Artist Rendering of Scorpius
Origin:
Scorpius is an old ecliptic constellation and is the eighth constellation
of the ancient zodiac. Before being separated into two individual
constellations, Libra (the Scales) was once
included as the claws of the scorpion. The name of the Scorpion on
the most ancient maps was Scorpio cum Chelae (Scorpion with Claws) but was
shortened when Libra was given to Virgo, the Maiden.
The brightest star in Scorpius is Antares, which
translates from the Greek as "Rival of Ares (god of War)" so named because of its red color and brightness which is
almost the same as the planet Mars.
Information:
Scorpius is one of the few constellations that actually resembles the
creature it represents. Laying west of the Milky Way, Scorpius
transits at 9 pm on August 1. The bright red star, Antares,
represents the heart of the scorpion and may be the target of the Archer, Sagittarius. A globular cluster (M4, NGC
6121) can be found in binoculars just west of Antares but through a
telescope this globular cluster is truly beautiful. M4 is also the
closest globular cluster at only about 7000 light years away. The
"stinger" region of Scorpius also glows with the soft light of
at least 6 star clusters. In fact, it is in globular and open
clusters for which Scorpius is famous being home to more than 9 different
clusters. The Scorpion is also home to not fewer than 4 planetary
nebulae (gas ejections from dead stars) although they are relatively faint
and require larger aperture telescopes to detect. Antares itself is
surrounded by a ruby-red emission nebula best observed photographically.
Mythology:
Orion was the son of
Poseidon (god of the Seas) and the sea-nymph Eurayle. Orion boasted
that his prowess as a hunter was so great that he could kill all the
animals on the face of the Earth. Such an arrogant statement alarmed
Gaea, Goddess of Earth and matriarch to the Titans, so she decided that
Orion must die just in case he might one day decide to demonstrate his
claim. Gaea created and sent the giant scorpion, Scorpius, with
orders to sting to Orion. As mighty as Orion was, he found that none
of his mortal weapons could slay the monster and, after only a brief
battle, the scorpion managed deliver a fatal sting on the hunter's heel
(Rigel - meaning "foot"). Orion and the Scorpion were each
honored for eternity as constellations in the sky but, to prevent any
lasting hostilities, they were placed at opposite ends of the starry
sphere -- as Orion rises in the east, Scorpius sets in the west.
According to
another legend, Apollo (god of the Sun) who, concerned for his sister's
Diana's chastity, sent the scorpion to dispatch Orion and insure her
virtue. |
