Scorpius the Scorpion
A
resplendent constellation lying in a rich area of the Milky Way, and
packed with exciting objects for users of binoculars and small
telescopes. In mythology, Scorpius was the scorpion whose sting
killed Orion. And in the sky Orion still flees from the scorpion, for
Orion sets below the horizon as the scorpion rises.
Scorpius
clearly resembles the creature after which it is named, with a curve
of stars forming its stinging tail. Its heart is marked by Antares it
is very red in colour.
Originally
in ancient Greek times and before Scorpius was a much larger
constellation, the stars that once made up its claws have now been
used to form the separate constellation of Libra.
Alpha
or Antares which means the Rival of Mars, its an irregular variable
star varying between magnitude 0.6-1.6 , it is 300 times larger than
the Sun . It has a temperature of only 3,500’C and is a M5
supergiant star lying 500 light years away.
Beta
or Acrab which means ‘the Scorpion’ has a magnitude 2.5 and is
made up of an incredible 6 stars. It is a B0class star with a
temperature of 27,000’C and is 400 light years away.
Delta
or Dschubba which means ‘Forehead’ lies 440 light years away. Its
a B0 star with a temperature of 27,000’C, and normally has a
magnitude of 2.3. Dschubba is a gamma Cassiopeia type variable star
and in 2000 it reached magnitude 1.5 changing the appearance of
Scorpius.
Epsilon magnitude 2.3 spectrum K1 giant with a
temperature of 4,500’C and lies 64 light years away.
Theta
magnitude 1.9 spectrum F0 supergiant with a temperature of of 7,200’C
and is 300 light years away.
Lambda
or Shaula which means the ‘Sting’ has a magnitude of 1.6, its a
B2 class star with a temperature of 25,000’C and is 570 light years
away.
The Messier objects M4,M6 and M7 are visible to
the naked eye while M80 require binoculars to see it.
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