Scorpius
Discover amazing facts about Scorpius, the scorpion constellation that actually looks like its namesake and dominates summer skies
Scorpius really does look like a scorpion with a curved tail and bright red heart star Antares
Scorpius the Scorpion is one of the most realistic-looking constellations in the entire sky! This summer constellation actually looks like a giant scorpion crouching low in the southern sky, complete with a curved body, outstretched claws, and a long tail that ends in a dangerous stinger. The bright red star Antares marks the scorpion's heart and is one of the largest known stars - if it replaced our Sun, it would swallow up the orbits of Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars! Antares gets its name from the Greek words meaning "rival of Mars" because it appears similar in color to the red planet.
Scorpius is best seen during summer evenings when it sits low in the southern sky. According to Greek mythology, Scorpius is the scorpion that killed the great hunter Orion, which is why these two constellations are never in the sky at the same time - when one rises, the other sets! The scorpion sits right in front of the center of our Milky Way galaxy, making it a fantastic area for stargazing. The constellation contains many beautiful star clusters and colorful nebulae that are perfect for exploring with binoculars or telescopes.
