Scorpius

Tonight, let’s venture into the southern skies and get familiar with one of the most dramatic, myth-soaked, and frankly badass constellations out there: Scorpius. (Yes, you might have heard “Scorpio” before — that’s the zodiac sign — but when we’re talking astronomy, it’s Scorpius.) Whether you’re armed with a telescope, a pair of binoculars, or just your own two eyes, Scorpius is a must-see. It’s packed with bright stars, deep-sky objects, and a rich mythological backstory that connects it to Orion, one of the most famous constellations in the night sky.

Ready to meet the cosmic scorpion? Let’s go!

Scorpius at a Glance

  • Best Viewing Months: June through August

  • Location: Southern sky (for Northern Hemisphere observers)

  • Latitude Range: Visible between +40° and -90°

  • Notable Stars: Antares, Shaula, Sargas

  • Messier Objects: M4, M6 (Butterfly Cluster), M7 (Ptolemy Cluster), and more

  • Mythology: Associated with the death of Orion, the hunter

  • Fun Fact: One of the few constellations that actually looks like its namesake!

The Myth Behind Scorpius

Before we jump into the stars, let’s zoom out and talk about the legend.

In Greek mythology, Scorpius is forever tied to Orion. Orion was a mighty hunter — bold, brash, and sometimes a little too full of himself. Depending on which version of the story you read, Orion either tried to kill every animal on Earth (bad move) or he claimed he was the greatest hunter and unbeatable by any beast (still pretty arrogant).

This arrogance angered Gaia (the Earth goddess) or sometimes Artemis (the goddess of the hunt) depending on the telling. To punish him, a giant scorpion was sent to kill Orion. They fought, and the scorpion won. (Brutal.)

As a reward, the gods placed both Orion and the Scorpion in the sky. But they put them on opposite sides of the heavens. That’s why you’ll never see Orion and Scorpius high in the sky at the same time — when Scorpius rises in the summer, Orion hides below the horizon, and vice versa.

Moral of the story: Stay humble…or a giant cosmic scorpion might be sent after you.

Key Stars in Scorpius

Scorpius is one of the most recognizable constellations because it’s full of bright stars that actually trace the shape of a scorpion — body, claws, and all. Let’s break it down:

Antares (Alpha Scorpii)

  • Name Meaning: “Rival of Mars” (Greek: “anti-Ares”)

  • Type: Red Supergiant

  • Magnitude: ~0.96 (very bright!)

  • Distance: About 550 light-years away

Antares is the heart of the scorpion — literally the glowing red heart. Its fiery red color can easily fool people into thinking it’s Mars when they first spot it. (Pro tip: If you’re not sure whether you’re looking at Mars or Antares, watch over a few nights — planets move, stars stay put.)

Antares is enormous — if placed at the center of our solar system, it would engulf all the planets out to Mars! It’s also part of a beautiful binary system with a small blue companion, though you’ll need a serious telescope to split the two.

Shaula (Lambda Scorpii)

  • Name Meaning: “The Raised Tail” (Arabic origin)

  • Type: Blue Subgiant

  • Magnitude: ~1.62

  • Distance: ~700 light-years

Shaula marks the stinger of the scorpion’s tail. It’s the second brightest star in Scorpius and is part of a rich, curving chain of stars that sweeps downward and hooks upward — truly scorpion-like!

Sargas (Theta Scorpii)

  • Type: Bright Giant

  • Magnitude: ~1.87

  • Distance: ~270 light-years

Sargas lights up the body of the scorpion, and it’s a white-hot star. Ancient cultures revered it as part of the “river” or “serpent” shapes they imagined in the skies.

Other Notable Stars

  • Acrab (Beta Scorpii): A lovely multiple star system. In binoculars or small telescopes, you can split it into two bright components!

  • Dschubba (Delta Scorpii): Another hot blue star — it marks part of the scorpion’s forehead.

Deep-Sky Treasures in Scorpius

If the bright stars weren’t enough, Scorpius is swimming in cosmic eye candy, especially clusters. Thanks to its location near the Milky Way’s central bulge, the background is rich and glorious. Here are a few “must-see” objects:

Messier 4 (M4)

  • Type: Globular Cluster

  • Distance: ~7,200 light-years

  • Magnitude: ~5.9

Right next to Antares — seriously, like half a degree away — sits M4, one of the closest globular clusters to Earth. Even in binoculars, it shows up as a faint smudge. Through a telescope, you can resolve some of the ancient stars packed into this glittering ball.

Messier 6 (M6) – The Butterfly Cluster

  • Type: Open Cluster

  • Distance: ~1,600 light-years

  • Magnitude: ~4.2

M6 really lives up to its name — through binoculars or a small telescope, its pattern resembles a butterfly with its wings spread. Full of bright, hot, young stars, this is a vibrant, beautiful cluster, especially under dark skies.

Messier 7 (M7) – Ptolemy’s Cluster

  • Type: Open Cluster

  • Distance: ~980 light-years

  • Magnitude: ~3.3

One of the biggest and brightest open clusters you can see without optical aid. Ancient astronomer Ptolemy catalogued it as a “nebulous mass” way back around 130 AD — thus the name. It’s a stunning sight through binoculars: dozens of stars in a wide, glittering spread.

Observing Guide: Finding Scorpius

When:
Scorpius shines brightest in July evenings for Northern Hemisphere observers. Look low in the southern sky.

Where:
Find Antares first — it’s the reddish beacon fairly low above the southern horizon. From Antares, look for a line of stars curving down and then back up into a tight hook — that’s the scorpion’s body and tail.

What You’ll Need:

  • Naked eye: You can trace the entire scorpion outline easily on a clear, dark night.

  • Binoculars: Perfect for scanning the rich Milky Way fields and picking up M6 and M7.

  • Small telescope (4-6 inches): Good for resolving M4’s stars, and peeking at multiple stars like Acrab.

Pro Tip:
Scorpius is low in the sky for most of North America and Europe. You’ll need a clear, unobstructed southern view. Avoid hills, trees, or city lights on your southern horizon if you can.

Fun Facts and Cultural Perspectives

  • Polynesian navigators used the stars of Scorpius as critical wayfinding markers across the Pacific.

  • In Hawaiian sky lore, Scorpius is known as Maui’s Fishhook — said to have pulled up the Hawaiian Islands from the ocean.

  • In Chinese astronomy, parts of Scorpius formed the “Azure Dragon” constellation, an important symbol of the East and springtime.

  • In Babylonian culture, Scorpius was called MUL.GIR.TAB, meaning “the scorpion” — making it one of the oldest recognized constellations!

Quick Sky Tour: Scorpius and Friends

Scorpius doesn’t travel alone. Right next door to the scorpion is Sagittarius, shaped like a teapot and pointing toward the center of our galaxy. Between Scorpius and Sagittarius, the Milky Way is thick and bright, filled with star clouds, dark dust lanes, and hidden nebulae.

While you’re scanning, look for:

  • M8 (Lagoon Nebula) in Sagittarius — a brilliant emission nebula.

  • The Milky Way core — the dense, mottled star fields where the heart of the galaxy lies.

  • M80, another globular cluster, tucked up closer toward Antares, though it’s a bit fainter than M4.

Final Thoughts: Why You Should Hunt the Scorpion

Scorpius is a treat because it’s dynamic. Its stars are colorful and diverse, the shape is vivid, and the surrounding Milky Way is jam-packed with treasures. It’s a perfect summer project: spend a few evenings getting to know the scorpion, cluster-hop among the open and globular clusters, and maybe even imagine the fierce cosmic battle between Orion and his celestial nemesis.

There’s something profoundly satisfying about connecting the dots between myth, astronomy, and your own personal journey through the stars.

So grab a chair, tilt your head back, and say hello to one of the oldest stories written in light: the scorpion, forever guarding the summer night sky.

Clear skies, everyone! 🌌🦂