Scorpio - a constellation of bright lights and unexpected finds

Scorpio - the constellation is the most incorrect, from the point of view of the zodiacal circle. According to the boundaries of the constellations finally approved in 1935, it takes only a small piece of the ecliptic on November 23-29, after which the Sun goes into the constellation Ophiuchus, which is not considered a zodiac. Because of this, the astrological community constantly disputes about the truth or falsity of horoscopes related to Scorpio. However, in this article we will talk about the knowledge gained by those who are patronized by Urania.

General excursion

In the firmament there are not so many constellations, really similar to the object they represent. Heavenly Scorpio actually resembles the earthly arthropod. It is no coincidence that the Aztecs, quite independently of the Greeks, called it by the same name. Very interesting is the fact that the constellation Scorpio in the sky with its relatively small size is very bright: more than a dozen stars in it brighter than 3 ^m . If you look at it where there is no light "smog" (in the countryside), you can clearly see that Scorpio seems to bathe in the Milky Way, plunging its "tail" into one of the richest sections of the sleeve of our Galaxy.

The most interesting objects

Antares . The brightest star in the constellation Scorpio, is included in the host of the most visible lights on the earth's sky. Red supergiant, very similar to Mars and its color, and brightness (0.86 ^m ). It is a visual double star, and in the blood-red glow bluish-white Antares seems green.

Beta Scorpio (Aqrab) . This star is like a Russian doll. At first it was assumed that this is a classical double star. However, careful research has shown that there are at least five stars in the Aqrab system revolving around their companions. It is assumed that the five times is not the limit.

Scorpion X-1 . The strongest source of radiation in the X-ray range, second only to the Sun. In its place was discovered the hot blue variable V818 Scorpio. Suspected the presence of a dual system with a neutron star.

GRO J1655-40 . A double star, one of whose components is invisible from the Earth. Nevertheless, it was possible to establish that the invisible literally devours gas, "pulled" from the visible star. Perhaps Scorpio is a constellation with a "proper" black hole.

1RXS J160929.1-210524 . Orange dwarf, yielding to the Sun by mass only 15%. In 2008, this star discovered a planet with 8.4 masses of Jupiter, which was photographed for the first time in the history of astronomy using a telescope.

Gliese 667C . This star, already quite well studied by astronomers, gave them a surprise in 2013 (in general, Scorpio is a constellation of surprises.) Three super-earth type planets have already been discovered, and they are at such a distance from the luminary that allows the presence of water in their liquid state on their surface . Now scientists are looking for the fourth.

To this we should add that it was in the constellation of Scorpio in 134 BC. E. An outstanding astronomer of antiquity Hipparchus observed the birth of a new star. This event prompted him to begin compiling his famous star catalog, the first in Europe.

Scorpio is a constellation not deprived of other astronomical objects. On its territory are five star clusters: two spherical and three scattered.