Scorpius

Legend has it that a scorpion killed the great hunter Orion by stinging him. The Gods then granted Orion’s dying wish that he never be in the sky at the same time as the scorpion. This is why, if you believe such things, that Orion is the dominant winter constellation while Scorpius the Scorpion dominates the summer nights. Scorpius is a Zodiac constellation, with those born between Oct. 22 and Nov. 21 falling under this astrological sign.

How to find the scorpius constellation:  

 

1.- Venture outside and look to the southwest horizon late on a summer’s evening. This is the optimum time to view Scorpius. Scorpius lies in the Milky Way, the part of our galaxy thick with stars. You will need to be able to get a clear look at the horizon to see all of Scorpius.

2.-Focus your attention on the reddish star Antares. This is the heart of Scorpius. It will be above the horizon and extremely obvious. Antares is what is called a red giant star and is many times larger than our own sun. Antares dominates this area of the sky, with no other stars nearly as luminous anywhere close to it. It is 500 light years from Earth and shines with a steady red hue. Antares means “rival of Mars,” which is a reference to how red it appears in comparison to the red planet.

3.- Glance to the right of Antares to see the head of Scorpius. Five stars make up the head. The constellation Libra is beyond these stars and once was included as the “scorpion’s claws.” The top of Scorpius is like a small curve of stars, with the curve coming back toward Antares.

4.- Look to the southwest of Antares for the rest of the scorpion’s body. The whole of Scorpius has the appearance of a fish hook or a wavy letter “J.” From Antares and down, the stars complete this shape, culminating in the tail of the scorpion. There is a small triangle of stars that form the stinger.

5.-Use binoculars to see the many notable objects in Scorpius. There are several globular clusters, or groups of stars, many light years away held together by gravity. Train your binoculars to the northwest of Antares and you will see a myriad of stars that the naked eye does not see. This part of the Milky Way is rich in stars.