Libra the Scales
A
small faint constellation of the zodiac, the ancient Greeks knew it
as the ‘claws of the scorpion’ an extension of the neighbouring
constellation of the Scorpion.
However the Romans made it a separate constellation at the time of
Julius Caesar. Since then the scales of Libra have come to be
regarded a the symbol of justice held aloft by the goddess of justice
Astraea.
Alpha
or Zubenelgenubi which means the ‘Southern Claw’ is actually the
second brightest star with a magnitude of mag 2.7 lying at a distance
of 77 light years. Zubenelgenubi is a F3 class star. A pair of
binoculars will reveal that alpha is actually a double star.
Beta
or Zubeneschamali or ‘Northern Claw, is actually the brightest star
at magnitude 2,6 lying at a distance of 185 light years.
Zubeneschmali is a B8 class star.
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