Scorpius

Scorpius is a prominent constellation in the southern celestial hemisphere and one of the twelve signs of the zodiac. Named after the scorpion from classical mythology, it is traditionally depicted as a curved, elongated scorpion with a distinctive tail. The constellation lies along the plane of the Milky Way, between Libra to the west and Sagittarius to the east, and is best viewed from the southern hemisphere.

The brightest star in Scorpius is Antares (Alpha Scorpii), a red supergiant about 550 light-years from Earth. The tail hosts two bright stars, Shaula and Lesath, which help outline the scorpion’s form. Other notable stars contribute to a recognizable asterism that many observers associate with the summer sky.

Scorpius contains several notable deep-sky objects. Among Messier objects, M6 (the Butterfly Cluster) and M7 (Ptolemy’s Cluster) are open clusters located in or near the constellation, while the globular cluster M4 lies close to Antares. The region is rich in star-forming areas and dark nebulae along the Milky Way’s band, contributing to its rich star-field appearance.

Mythology associates Scorpius with the scorpion that, according to a Greek tale, was sent by Gaia to defeat the hunter Orion. In the sky, the two are placed on opposite sides, so they appear in different parts of the zodiac at different times of the year.

Observationally, Scorpius is most prominent from the southern hemisphere and is best seen in summer evenings there. In northern latitudes, it remains visible low on the horizon for part of the year.