The Scorpius constellation
Sco · Catalogue stars: 41
Why this name?
The curved chain of stars resembles a scorpion with its tail raised. According to one Greek myth, a scorpion killed Orion the hunter.
A little history
Orion and Scorpius occupy widely separated regions of the sky, fitting the legend of their enmity. The Greeks also associated the stars of modern Libra with the scorpion’s claws.
Data
- IAU code
- Sco
- Catalogue stars
- 41
- Messier objects
- 4
- Brightest star
- Antares · 1.1ᵐ
Messier objects
Stars
- Antaresstar · 1.1ᵐ
- Shaulastar · 1.6ᵐ
- Sargasstar · 1.9ᵐ
- Dschubbastar · 2.3ᵐ
- Larawagstar · 2.3ᵐ
- Acrabstar · 2.6ᵐ
- Lesathstar · 2.7ᵐ
- Paikauhalestar · 2.8ᵐ
- Fangstar · 2.9ᵐ
- Alniyatstar · 2.9ᵐ
- Xamidimurastar · 3.0ᵐ
- Fuyuestar · 3.2ᵐ
- Pipirimastar · 3.6ᵐ
- Iklilstar · 3.9ᵐ
- Jabbahstar · 4.0ᵐ
- Graffiasstar · 4.8ᵐ
- Acrab Bstar · 4.9ᵐ
Stars (HIP)
- HIP 86670 · 2.4ᵐ · B1.5III
- HIP 87073 · 3.0ᵐ · F3Ia
- HIP 84143 · 3.3ᵐ · F3p
- HIP 82729 · 3.6ᵐ · K4III
- HIP 78933 · 3.9ᵐ · B1V
- HIP 81304 · 4.2ᵐ · K5III
- HIP 80911 · 4.2ᵐ · B2III-IV
- HIP 86170 · 4.3ᵐ · G8/K0III/IV
- HIP 78990 · 4.3ᵐ · G6/G8III
- HIP 80079 · 4.5ᵐ · A4II/III
- HIP 79404 · 4.6ᵐ · B2V
- HIP 77840 · 4.6ᵐ · B2.5Vn
- HIP 77635 · 4.6ᵐ · B1.5Vn
- HIP 82671 · 4.7ᵐ · B1Iae
- HIP 87294 · 4.8ᵐ · A6Ib
- HIP 80815 · 4.8ᵐ · B3V
- HIP 87220 · 4.8ᵐ · B8Ib/II
- HIP 79881 · 4.8ᵐ · A0V:
- HIP 83574 · 4.8ᵐ · B2Iab
- HIP 87846 · 4.8ᵐ · K2III
Altitude above the horizon by latitude
| Latitude | Maximum altitude | Rise azimuth |
|---|---|---|
| +60° | 3° | 156° |
| +55° | 8° | 143° |
| +45° | 18° | 130° |
| +30° | 33° | 122° |
| 0° | 63° | 117° |
| −35° | 82° | 124° |
Geometric altitude at upper culmination, atmospheric refraction not included. Positive latitudes are in the northern hemisphere.
Culmination time by month
| Month | Culmination |
|---|---|
| January | 08:59 |
| February | 06:52 |
| March | 05:06 |
| April | 03:13 |
| May | 01:19 |
| June | 23:13 |
| July | 21:09 |
| August | 19:08 |
| September | 17:15 |
| October | 15:26 |
| November | 13:25 |
| December | 11:17 |
Upper culmination in local solar time — no time-zone or daylight-saving correction applied.
Neighbouring constellations
In brief
Which is the brightest star in Scorpius?
Antares — 1.1ᵐ.