Virgo the Virgin
The
2nd
largest constellation in the sky. Many myths are associated with this
constellation which has usually been seen as a beautiful and virtuous
maiden. But other legends have associated Virgo with successful
harvests, and so she is pictured holding an ear of corn (Spica) in
her left hand and a palm leaf in her right hand. In these legends she
is identified with the Greek harvest goddess Demeter (the Roman
Ceres)
Virgo
contains a rich cluster of galaxies, the nearest major cluster to us
at about 55 million ly.
Alpha
or Spica which means ear of wheat has a magnitude of 1.0 and is a B1
class star with a temperature of 25,000’C and is 250 light years
away.
Gamma
or Porrima named after the Roman goddess of Prophecy has magnitude of
2.8, it is actually a double star the two stars have magnitudes of
3.5 and 3.6 a telescope
is needed to see them they are both F0 class stars with temperatures
of about 6,700’C gamma is 38 light
years away.
Epsilon
or Vindemiatrix which means grape gatherer is of magnitude 2.8 and
is a G8 giant with a temperature of 5,000’C and is 110 light years
away.
There
are numerous Messier and NGC objects in Virgo
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