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Scorpius constellation

Scorpius is a zodiac constellation of the southern sky. Its brightest star is Antares. Visibility at mid-northern latitudes (52° N): only partly visible — its southern part never rises above the horizon.

  • Summerbest seen
  • Antaresbrightest star, magnitude 1.1
  • ScoScorpius
Show on the sky map
The constellation Scorpius in the starry sky: its figure and its bright stars Antares, Scorpius — magnitude 1.1. Open on the sky mapAntaresShaula, Scorpius — magnitude 1.6. Open on the sky mapShaulaKaus Australis, Sagittarius — magnitude 1.8. Open on the sky mapSargas, Scorpius — magnitude 1.9. Open on the sky mapSargasDschubba, Scorpius — magnitude 2.3. Open on the sky mapDschubbaLarawag, Scorpius — magnitude 2.3. Open on the sky mapLarawagMula, Scorpius — magnitude 2.4. Open on the sky mapAcrab, Scorpius — magnitude 2.6. Open on the sky mapβ Lupi — magnitude 2.7. Open on the sky mapLesath, Scorpius — magnitude 2.7. Open on the sky mapKaus Media, Sagittarius — magnitude 2.7. Open on the sky mapγ Lupi — magnitude 2.8. Open on the sky mapPaikauhale, Scorpius — magnitude 2.8. Open on the sky mapFang, Scorpius — magnitude 2.9. Open on the sky mapAlniyat, Scorpius — magnitude 2.9. Open on the sky mapAlnasl, Sagittarius — magnitude 3.0. Open on the sky mapGirtab, Scorpius — magnitude 3.0. Open on the sky mapXamidimura, Scorpius — magnitude 3.0. Open on the sky mapFuyue, Scorpius — magnitude 3.2. Open on the sky mapη Scorpii — magnitude 3.3. Open on the sky mapPipirima, Scorpius — magnitude 3.6. Open on the sky mapζ² Scorpii — magnitude 3.6. Open on the sky mapIklil, Scorpius — magnitude 3.9. Open on the sky mapJabhat Acrabi, Scorpius — magnitude 3.9. Open on the sky mapJabbah, Scorpius — magnitude 4.0. Open on the sky mapH Scorpii — magnitude 4.2. Open on the sky mapN Scorpii — magnitude 4.2. Open on the sky mapQ Scorpii — magnitude 4.3. Open on the sky mapω² Scorpii — magnitude 4.3. Open on the sky mapο Scorpii — magnitude 4.5. Open on the sky mapc² Scorpii — magnitude 4.6. Open on the sky mapA Scorpii — magnitude 4.6. Open on the sky map N ↑← E
North is up, east is left — this is how the constellation looks in the sky. Click a star to open it on the sky map.

How to find the constellation Scorpius

Red Antares is the “heart of the Scorpion”. From mid-northern latitudes it is seen low over the southern horizon in summer, and the curved tail of the constellation does not rise there — it can be seen from farther south.

Best seen in summer: in July around 22:00 it is highest above the southern horizon — the center of the figure rises to about 5°.

LocationVisibility
40° NMadrid, New York, Beijingrises and sets, fully visible
52° NLondon, Berlin, Warsawonly partly visible — its southern part never rises above the horizon
60° NOslo, Helsinki, Saint Petersburgonly partly visible — its southern part never rises above the horizon

Bright stars of the constellation

StarMagnitudeColorDistance
Antaresα Scorpii 1.1redabout 550 light years
Shaulaλ Scorpii 1.6blue—
Sargasθ Scorpii 1.9white—
Dschubbaδ Scorpii 2.3blue—
Larawagε Scorpii 2.3orange—
Mulaκ Scorpii 2.4blue—
Acrabβ¹ Scorpii 2.6bluish white—
Lesathυ Scorpii 2.7blue—
Paikauhaleτ Scorpii 2.8blue—
Fangπ Scorpii 2.9blue—
Alniyatσ Scorpii 2.9white—
Girtabι¹ Scorpii 3.0yellow—

Magnitude is a measure of a star’s brightness: the smaller the number, the brighter the star; on a dark night the naked eye can see stars down to magnitude 6.

Questions

How do you find the constellation Scorpius in the sky?

Red Antares is the “heart of the Scorpion”. From mid-northern latitudes it is seen low over the southern horizon in summer, and the curved tail of the constellation does not rise there — it can be seen from farther south.

When is the best time of year to observe the constellation Scorpius?

In summer: in July around 22:00 the constellation is highest above the horizon. Two or three months earlier it can be seen before dawn, two or three months later only in the early evening, and half a year later it is in the sky during the day, near the Sun, and can’t be seen.

What is the brightest star in the constellation Scorpius?

Antares: magnitude 1.1, red. Distance: about 550 light years.

How many stars are there in the constellation Scorpius?

With the naked eye on a perfectly dark night — with no light pollution and no Moon — you can see about 103 stars in the constellation (brighter than magnitude 6, within the constellation’s boundaries). In a city far fewer: usually only the stars of its figure.

Summer constellations

Find it in the sky tonightA sky map over your city: where the constellation Scorpius is now and when it will rise.
Open the sky map