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Scorpius, the Scorpion

Three bright stars form the “head” of Scorpius, the celestial scorpion, while its tail curves away below it in the southern sky of summer. The brightest star in Scorpius is Antares, which is in the middle of the scorpion’s curving body. If you placed this brilliant red star at the center of our own solar system, it would swallow Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars, and almost reach Jupiter.

Resources

Scorpius, the Scorpion

Scorpius, the Scorpion May 25, 2010

Radio Programs

Dynamic Butterfly Big changes for a butterfly July 18, 2023

The Stinger The scorpion’s bright stinger July 16, 2023

Double Parents A planet that’s been through a lot July 14, 2023

Moon in Balance Bringing a constellation into balance June 28, 2023

Moon and Antares Rolling through some stellar bowling pins May 6, 2023

Moon and the Scorpion Doomed stars in the scorpion September 30, 2022

Sigma Scorpii Impressive stars near the scorpion’s heart August 27, 2022

Overdue Eruption A tardy stellar outburst July 13, 2022

Scorpius X-1 Brightest and brightest in the scorpion July 12, 2022

Scorpius The season of the scorpion July 11, 2022

Moon in the Claw A former claw of the scorpion July 8, 2022

Moon and Antares A brilliant demise for a bright star February 23, 2022

Making More Stars Quick births in a stellar nursery September 5, 2021

Moon and the Scorpion The head of the scorpion gets brighter July 19, 2021

Venus in the Claws Venus heads for the scorpion’s claw November 30, 2020

Summer Symbols Symbols of summer in the evening sky September 27, 2020

The Arteries The strong arteries of the scorpion August 6, 2020

Blowing Off Steam A star that likes to blow off steam August 5, 2020

Scorpius A bright scorpion in the summer sky August 4, 2020

Nesting Stars Keeping the chicks close to the nest June 26, 2020

The Stinger The scorpion’s impressive stinger June 25, 2020

Messier 7 A far but bright star cluster August 24, 2019

Sigma Scorpii Impressive stars near the scorpion’s heart July 30, 2017

Scorpion’s Tail The scorpion’s fearsome tail July 13, 2017

Scorpion’s Head An arachnid with a case of the “bighead” July 12, 2017

Scorpius Picturing the outline of the scorpion July 11, 2017

Zapped! A dead star zaps a close companion July 5, 2017

Red Nova An exploding star turns red June 28, 2017

Moon and Antares Changing the view of the scorpion June 6, 2017

Scorpion’s Claws “De-clawing” the scorpion May 18, 2017

Featured Images

rcw 120, a busy stellar nursery

Stellar Bubble September 5, 2021
Sagittarius and Scorpius

Summer Highlights June 25, 2020
Messier 7

Distant Sparklers August 24, 2019
Artist's concept of AR Scorpii

Pulsing Corpse July 5, 2017