Constellation of Scorpius
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Scorpius version 1
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Image and text ©2008 Akira Fujii/David Malin Images.

In the picture above, top right is north and the image covers 27.8 x 34.8 degrees.
Image centre is located at 16:40:20.0, -25:25:30 (H:M:S, D:M:S, J2000) Astrometric data from Astrometry.net.

Scorpius on the horizon
Best seen in the early evening in July

Scorpius is one of the few constellations whose star pattern resembles its name. The curved stinging tail is marked by the star Shahula, probably from from the Arabic 'Al Shaulah' meaning 'raised tail', as seen in a scorpion. In the body of the scorpion lies Antares, meaning 'rival of Mars' for its reddish colour. The head of the scorpion is echoed in the star name Dschubba, meaning 'forehead'. However, the scorpion shape looks trucated in our photograph and it is. In ancient times it extended into what is now Libra, where the brightest stars (not seen here) still carry the resonant names Zeubenelgenubi (α1,2 Lib, the southern claw) and Zeubeneschamali (β Lib, the northern claw).

This celestial scorpion was sent by a jealous Artemis to kill Orion, who sitll fees the venomous insect:as Scorpius rises Orion sets, and vice-versa. However, he could not be saved even by Asclepius, the god of healing, who was later sent into the heavens as Ophiuchus, the serpent wrestler, a symbol still used by the medical profession.

The constellation bestrides one of the richest parts of the southern Milky Way and is adorned by many beautiful stars. It is rich in young stars clusters and the nebulae from which they spring. Some examples are listed below. This images was made with Scorpius close to the horizon and with an exposure made to emphasise the bright stars. Another view shows more of the Milky Way in a longer exposure.

The named stars in the constellation: (Greek alphabet)
Acrab (β1,2 Sco), Alniyat (σ Sco), Alniyat (τ Sco), Antares (α Sco), Dschubba (δ Sco), Jabbah (ν Sco), Girtab (Sargas, θ Sco), Graffias (β1 Sco), Lesath (υ Sco), Shaula (λ Sco).

Adjoining constellations: Ara, Corona Australis, Libra Lupus, Norma, Ophiuchus, Ara, Sagittarius

Related images (other sources)
AAT 11.     NGC 6302, a planetary nebula
AAT 72.     A dark cloud in Scorpius
AAT 104.   NGC 6231, the Sco OB association
AAT 105.   IC 4628, emission nebula in Scorpius
AAT 114.   NGC 6242, an open cluster
AAT 121.   M4, NGC 6121, globular cluster in Scorpius
UKS 4.       Antares and the Rho Ophiuchi dark cloud (Scorpius/Ophiuchus)
UKS 10.     NGC 6334 and NGC 6357 in the Milky Way
UKS 30.     The Antares nebula
UKS 38.     Star clouds and Dust in Scorpius

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David Malin, 2017 April 29.