Scorpio (constellation)

Scorpio constellation

Latin name	Scorpius
Latin genitive	Scorpii
Abbreviation	Sco
Right ascension	15471515 ^h 47 ^m 15 ^s to 17 ^h 59 ^m 14 ^s175914
declination	1545399−45 ° 46 ′ 01 ″ to −8 ° 17 ′ 45 ″1918255
surface	496,783 deg² rank 33
Completely visible	44.3 ° N to 90 ° S
Observation time for Central Europe	Summer (partially)
Number of stars brighter than 3 mag	11
Brightest star (size)	Antares (1.06)
Meteor streams
Neighboring constellations ( clockwise from north )	Snake bearer Libra wolf Angle measure altar Southern crown Sagittarius
swell	IAU ,

The Scorpion ( Latin Scorpio, Scorpius, Scorpios ; astronomical sign ♏; name of the IAU Scorpius , abbreviated Sco ) is a constellation of the ecliptic .

description

The Scorpio constellation as seen with the naked eye from a location with a latitude of around 50 °

Scorpio is one of the most imposing constellations in the southern night sky of the northern hemisphere. A twisted, bright chain of stars forms the clearly recognizable form of a scorpion with claws and an upright sting.

It is located near the center of the Milky Way and therefore contains a large number of star clusters and nebulae. The sight in the binoculars is particularly impressive .

Due to its southern location, the constellation can only be found just on the southern horizon from Central Europe in summer and only partially visible from Germany, Austria and Switzerland.

The ecliptic runs through Scorpio, therefore the sun , moon and planets move through the constellation. It is one of the signs of the zodiac . Due to the precession movement of the earth's axis, the time of the passage of the sun has shifted compared to ancient times. The sun is currently in Scorpio from November 23rd to November 30th . That is the shortest length of stay in a constellation during the year.

history

Engraving of the constellation Scorpio

The constellation was already known in Sumerian times and was associated with the goddess Išḫara . The current meaning of the constellation goes back to the ancient Greeks. Scorpio is one of the 48 classic constellations described by Ptolemy .

The Chinese saw in the constellation a mighty but benevolent dragon, whose appearance heralded the spring.

Even pre-Columbian cultures saw a scorpion in the constellation. The Maya used the term zinaan ek (stars of Scorpio). John Barantine of the Point Observatory in New Mexico sees a stone carving of the Hohokam culture in North America a representation of the supernova of May 1, 1006 in the constellation Scorpio.

The constellation has changed somewhat due to the definition of the current limits of the modern constellations. With the star γ ( Sigma Librae ), the Scorpio lost its southern scissors to the constellation Libra, but got its main stars α (now N Scorpii) and β (now H Scorpii) from the constellation Winkelmess .

mythology

In Greek mythology there are different narratives about the constellation.

Artemis , the goddess of the hunt, is said to have ordered the scorpion to kill the hunter Orion . He had incurred her anger through his resolution to kill all wild animals and monsters. According to another tradition, the jealous Apollo sent the Scorpio because Artemis was fond of Orion. Later, since he regretted the death of his friend, he took him to heaven. According to other sources, it was Hera , wife of Zeus , who had Orion killed by the scorpion because he had raped Merope . There are also different accounts of the outcome of the encounter. Orion dies from a stab in the heel or survives because he trampled the scorpion before. The two opponents were moved as far apart as possible in the sky so that they never meet there. When the Scorpio rises, the Orion sets and vice versa.

Another legend brings the scorpion into connection with Phaeton , the mortal son of the sun god Helios . Phaeton persuaded his father to let him have the sun chariot drawn by fiery horses. The inexperienced Phaeton soon lost control of the car. When the horses saw the sky scorpion with the sting raised, they went through and the chariot sped across the sky. The angry Zeus threw lightning, whereupon the fatally struck Phaeton fell into the river Eridanus .

Celestial objects

Stars

B.	F.	Names or other designations	Size likes	Lj	Spectral class
101α	21st	Antares , Calbalacrab, Cor Scorpii, Vespertilo	0.9 to 1.8	604	M1.5 Iab-Ib + B4 Ve
111λ	35	Shaula	1.63	703	B2 IV + B
108θ		Sargas	1.86	272	F1 II
105ε	26th	Larawag , Wei	2.3	64	K1 III
104δ	7th	Jubba , Al Jabba, Iclarkrau	2.29	402	B0.3 IV
110κ		Girtab	2.41	464	B1.5 III
102β ¹	8th	Akrab , Elacrab, Graffias, Grassias	2.56	530	B1 V
120υ	34	Lesath , Lesuth	2.70	519	B2 IV
119τ	23	Alniyat , Al Niyat	2.8	about 500	B0 V
116π	6th		2.89	459	B1 V + B2 V
118σ	20th	Alniyat , Al Niyat	2.9	about 600	B1 III + approx B1 + approx B7 + B9.5 V
109ι ¹			2.99	1792	F2 Iae
112μ ¹			3.00	822	B1.5 V + B6.5 V
300G			3.19	127	K2 III
107η			3.32	72	F3 III-Ivp
112μ ²			3.56	517	B2 IV
106ζ ²			3.62	151	K4 III
117ρ	5		3.87	409	B2 IV-V
124ω ¹	9	Jabhat al Akrab	3.93	424	B1 V
113ν	14th	Jabbah	4.00	437	B3 V
114ξ		Graffias	4.16	92.5
400		HR 6166	4.18	339	K6 III
400		HR 6143	4.24	746	B2 III-IV
400		HR 6546	4.26	144	K0 IIIb
124ω ²			4.31	265	G3 II-III
115ο	19th		4.55	1178	A5 II
200cc ²	13		4.58	468	B2V
200aA.	2		4.59	434	B2.5 Vn
400	1		4.63	522	B3 V
106ζ ¹			4.70	2900	B1 Iape
109ι ²			4.78	3700	A2Ib
200ii	22nd		4.79	393	B2 V
400		HR 6628	4.79	607	B8V
200dd			4.80	140	A0 V
400		HR 6334	4.83	2700	B1 Ia
400		HR 6675	4.85	347	K2 III
400		HR 6682	4.88	547	M0 III
102β ²			4.90	1133	B2 V
123ψ	15th		4.93	165	A3 IV
400		HR 5969	4.96	212	K5 III
400		HR 6316	5.03	491	B8 V
400		HR 6371	5.06	300	G8 - K0 III + G
400		HR 6017	5.09	255	K3 III
400		HR 6460	5.10	757	B7 III
400		HR 6245	5.23	7000	O8 Iaf
122χ	17th		5.24	439	K3 III
400		HR 6142	5.31	8500	B1 Iae
400		HR 6001	5.35	425	M2 III
400		HR 6094	5.37	42	G5 V
400		HR 5906	5.38	414	B6 Ivn
400		HR 5907	5.41	393	B2.5 Vne
400		HR 6100	5.42	468	B8 IV
400		V913	5.43	488	B5 IV
400	16		5.43	250	A4 V
400		HR 6260	5.46	6000	B0.5 Ia
400		V918	5.46	3000	O9 Ia
400		HR 6221	5.48	369	K0 III
400	27		5.48	725	K5 III
400	18th		5.49	46	G2 Va
400		HR 6007	5.50	433	B8 V

λ Scorpii, the second brightest star in Scorpio, is a blue giant star 600 light years away. The name Shaula comes from Arabic and derives from "the raised (sting)".

The yellow shining 18 Scorpii, 46 light-years away, is a star that is very similar to our sun in size, temperature and luminosity . With an apparent brightness of 5.49, it is barely visible to the naked eye.

Multiple stars

system	Sizes	distance
α	0.9 to 1.8 / 6.5 ^m	2.4 ″
β	2.9 / 5.1 ^m	13.7 ″
σ	3.0 to 3.8 / 9.0 ^m	20 ″
ξ	4.1 / 7.2 ^m	7.9 ″
ν	4.0 / 6.2 ^m	41.4 ″

The brightest star in Scorpio is Antares (α Scorpii). The name is derived from "Anti-Ares" and means "Gegenmars" (the Greek god of war Ares corresponds to the Roman god Mars ). Due to its reddish color, the star in the night sky resembles the planet Mars . Another historical name is "Kalb al Akrab", Arabic for "heart of the scorpion". The Latin name "Cor Scorpii" has the same meaning.

Antares is a binary star system 600 light years away. At a distance of 2.4 arc seconds there is a companion of the 6th magnitude. It is not easy to observe because it is outshone by the bright main star. You need a telescope from 15 cm opening.

The main star is a supergiant with 10,000 times the luminosity and 700 times the diameter of our sun. If it were in the center of our solar system , it would protrude beyond the orbit of Mars.

The star pulsates for a period of about 4.75 years, with its brightness changing from 0.9 to 1.8 ^m .

β Scorpii is a binary star 530 light years away. Both stars can be observed with a small telescope. The Arabic name Akrab means "scorpion".

The ξ Scorpii system, 93 light-years away, consists of six stars, five of which orbit each other. Two stars can easily be observed in the telescope.

The system ν Scorpii is 437 light years away and consists of five stars. Four stars are visible in a telescope with an aperture of 15 cm or more.

The star σ Scorpii, 735 light years away, has a companion of the 9th magnitude. Due to the wide angular distance of 20 arc seconds, the system can be observed with a small telescope.

U Scorpii is a recurring nova (magnitude 8–9 mag) with a normal magnitude of 18.5 mag, the last outbreak of which occurred in February 1999. It is a binary star and eclipsing variable with a period of 1.23 days and a decrease in brightness of 0.4 to 0.8 mag. The former main star has already become a white dwarf and a candidate for an imminent supernova. The distance is estimated to be around 20,000 light years.

Variable stars

star	size	period	Type
α	0.75 to 1.21 ^m	5.97 years	Semi-regular variable star
σ	2.86 to 2.94 ^m	5.92 hours	Beta Cephei star
AR	14.58 ^m	3.56 hours	Variable star

The main star of the system σ Scorpii changes its brightness over a period of 5 hours and 55 minutes.

Messier and NGC objects

Messier (M)	NGC	Surname	size	Type
4th	6121		5.9 ^m	Globular clusters
6th	6405	Butterfly cluster	4.2 ^m	Open star cluster
7th	6475		3.3 ^m	Open star cluster
80	6093		7.3 ^m	Globular clusters
	6124			Open star cluster
	6139			Globular clusters
	6144			Globular clusters
	6153		10.9 ^m	Planetary nebula
	6178			Open star cluster
	6192			Open star cluster
	6231			Open star cluster
	6242			Open star cluster
	6249			Open star cluster
	6259			Open star cluster
	6268			Open star cluster
	6302	Beetle nebula	9.6 ^m	Planetary nebula
	6322			Open star cluster
	6334			Emission nebula
	6383			Open star cluster
	6388			Globular clusters
	6416			Open star cluster

Other objects

A variety of foggy objects are visible in Scorpio. The French astronomer and comet hunter Charles Messier included five in his catalog ( Messier catalog ).

Immediately to the east of the bright star Antares is the globular cluster M 4, 6,000 light years away . Already with the binoculars it can be seen as a foggy spot. With a telescope from 10 cm opening single stars can be seen.

Not far north of Antares and therefore also easy to find is the globular cluster M 80 . Due to its distance of 36,000 light years, it is only visible in telescopes with an aperture of 6 cm or more.

The open star cluster M 6 is about 2,000 light years away. About 70 stars can be seen in binoculars. Because of its shape, the star cluster is also known as the “butterfly nebula”.

The open star cluster M 7 , 800 light-years away, contains about 80 stars that are brighter than the 10th magnitude.

M 6 and M 7 are among the most impressive open star clusters visible from Europe.

In a study published in 1933, the object H 2-1 was already noticed , which Guillermo Haro classified as a planetary nebula in 1952 .

Web links

Wiktionary: Scorpio - explanations of meanings, word origins, synonyms, translations

Commons : Scorpio constellation - collection of images, videos and audio files

Scorpio constellation A photographic journey through the signs of the zodiac
Spektrum.de : Amateur recordings [1] [2] [3]

Details

^ Robert Burnham: Celestial Handbook. Vol. 3. Dover, New York 1978. ISBN 0-486-23673-0
^ Victor Wolfgang von Hagen (American explorer).
↑ John Barantine (Apache Point Observetory, New Mexico). in: Adventure Archeology. Cultures, people, monuments. Spectrum of Science Verl.-Ges., Heidelberg 2006,3 u. 2006, 4, p. 6. ISSN 1612-9954
↑ Stern und Weltraum , May 2008, pp. 84–85, "Eine Nova auf Ansage"
^ Paul W. Merrill, Cora G. Burwell: Catalog and Bibliography of Stars of Classes B and a whose Spectra have Bright Hydrogen Lines , bibcode : 1933ApJ .... 78 ... 87M (H 2-1 is noted as the 247th entry )
↑ Guillermo Haro: Nuevas nebulosas planetarias y objetos con emision en la region del centro galactico. , bibcode : 1952BOTT .... 1a ... 1H

[1] Robert Burnham: Celestial Handbook. Vol. 3. Dover, New York 1978. ISBN 0-486-23673-0

[2] Victor Wolfgang von Hagen (American explorer).

[3] John Barantine (Apache Point Observetory, New Mexico). in: Adventure Archeology. Cultures, people, monuments. Spectrum of Science Verl.-Ges., Heidelberg 2006,3 u. 2006, 4, p. 6. ISSN 1612-9954

[4] Stern und Weltraum , May 2008, pp. 84–85, "Eine Nova auf Ansage"

[5] Paul W. Merrill, Cora G. Burwell: Catalog and Bibliography of Stars of Classes B and a whose Spectra have Bright Hydrogen Lines , bibcode : 1933ApJ .... 78 ... 87M (H 2-1 is noted as the 247th entry )

[6] Guillermo Haro: Nuevas nebulosas planetarias y objetos con emision en la region del centro galactico. , bibcode : 1952BOTT .... 1a ... 1H