Scorpio is the 8th astrological sign in the zodiac between Libra and Sagittarius and is the astrological sign for those born between the dates of October 23rd and November 21st. The constellation name is Scorpius (Latin for Scorpion) due to its unique shape. The brightest star in the constellation is Antares. Antares is a slow irregular variable star that ranges in brightness from apparent magnitude of +0.6 to +1.6. You will also notice that there are 2 stars at the end of the Scorpion’s tail which is ‘The Stinger’, these stars are called Shaula and Lesath, this is where you can see the clear resemblance to the Scorpion. Scorpius is the 33rd constellation in size, occupying an area of 497 square degrees.
Visibility
Scorpius is visible in both the Northern and Southern skies. In the Northern Hemisphere, Scorpius is visible if you look to the south during July and August from 10pm. In the Southern Hemisphere, it is visible in the North of the sky until late September. Scorpius has at least 18 bright stars and is therefore easily spotted with the naked eye. To find Scorpius, you can use the following information while stargazing –
- Declination: 30° south
- On Right ascension: 16 hours 30 minutes
- the map: Visible between latitudes +40° and -90°.
- Best seen: Best visible at 22:00 (10 p.m.) between July and August in the Northern Hemisphere and until late September in the Southern Hemisphere.
Mythology
In Ancient Greek Mythology, it is said that Orion boasted to the goddess Artemis and her mother, Leo, that he would kill every animal on the earth and despite Artemis being a hunter herself, she vowed to protect every animal by sending a Scorpion to deal with Orion. During the battle between the two, the Scorpion succeeds in killing Orion and caught the attention of the King of Gods, Zeus. Zeus sent the Scorpion to heaven to commemorate his success in killing Orion and saving all the animals on Earth while Artemis also requested for Orion be sent to the sky as a reminder for mortals to curb their excessive pride.
Get to know your Scorpio friends
Ever wondered what your strengths and weaknesses are? As with every zodiac, those born within certain periods are thought to have a particular set of traits based on their Zodiac sign. Keep reading to learn more about the characteristics of the Scorpio’s in your life -
- Strengths – Passionate, Driven, Perceptive, Emotional, Sacrificing, Determined
- Weaknesses – Vindictive, Paranoid, Destructive, Possessive, Jealous, Clingy
- Ruling Planet – Pluto
- Modality – Fixed
- Polarity – Receptive
- Element – Water
- Tarot Card – Death
- Symbol – the Scorpion
Do you have a Scorpio birthday coming up soon? Trying to find the perfect gift? Head over to our website to name a star after someone!