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Names of stars in the constellation Libra. Legends and myths about constellations

SCALES- zodiac constellation. It is at its highest point above the horizon and is best seen at night in June and July. 88 Its closest neighbors are the constellations Ophiuchus, Scorpio, Wolf, Virgo and Serpent.
On a clear and moonless night, about 50 stars can be seen with the naked eye in the constellation Libra, but only six of them are brighter than fourth magnitude. The four brightest stars form a rhomboid, the characteristic geometric shape of this constellation. It doesn't take much imagination to see a rocker and scales in this figure. On star maps, the constellation Libra was depicted in the form of ancient apothecary scales.
In this constellation, the eclipsing variable star δ Libra is of interest. Both of its components have approximately the same dimensions (their radii are 2,400,000 and 2,500,000 kilometers). One of the stars is blue, the other is yellow. The period of the system is 2.23 days. The brightness of Libra varies from 4m.8 to 5m.9. When the yellow star is in front of the blue one, a second minimum of luminosity is observed. The star δ Libra is easily observed with the naked eye.

Image of the constellation Libra.

Libra belongs to the constellations known to mankind for a long time. This is the only zodiac constellation whose name is not related to the name of living beings. How did this measuring instrument get to heaven?
More than two thousand years ago, the point of the autumnal equinox was located in the area of the constellation Libra. During its apparent annual movement along the ecliptic, the Sun was at this point on September 23, and the length of the day was equal to the length of the night. Probably, the equality of day and night was the reason for the name of this area of the sky in ancient times. This is how the constellation Libra appeared among the zodiac constellations.
The constellation Libra is also associated with the agricultural work of the ancient Egyptians. After the harvest and threshing, before the wheat was poured into barns for storage, the resulting harvest was weighed. Apparently, this was done at a time when the Sun was in the area of this constellation. Thus, the constellation Libra was reminded of the work of weighing the harvest.

Ancient Greek mythology associated the constellation Libra with the scales of the goddess of justice Dike.
From the heights of bright Olympus, Zeus established order and laws in Heaven and Earth. He strictly ensured that they were carried out by people. But Zeus had other worries, and therefore he had assistants. Next to his throne was always the goddess of justice Themis. By order of Zeus, she convened the gods for a council, organized public meetings and oversaw the maintenance of order and law.
The daughter of Zeus and Themis - the tireless Dike - walked around the Earth with her scales. In order to make her appear impartial, her eyes were blindfolded. She told her father Zeus about the deeds of unjust judges and people, and he severely punished them for not observing the laws he had established.
Goddess Dike was the enemy of all deception and lies. She defended only truth and justice. On her scales, she most accurately measured the just and unjust actions of people, so that they would receive a well-deserved punishment from Zeus, so that only justice would reign everywhere in the world.
Zeus left the scales for his daughter Dike in the sky. Thus, the constellation Libra appeared among the zodiac constellations to remind people that they must strictly adhere to the laws and be guided by justice in their actions.

Libra is a unique constellation in the Southern Hemisphere. It denotes an inanimate object, which is unusual for other constellations. The history of the name refers to the times of early Christianity, when people observed Libra at the time of the autumn equinox. The drawings usually depict scales in the hands of the goddess of justice, who is represented by the constellation Virgo.

It is best to look at Libra in April - May, when the brightest luminaries of the constellation are in a favorable position and illuminate 538 square meters. degrees of space, including the star Methuselah - the oldest in the entire Universe.

From mythology

The ancient Greeks did not identify Libra as a separate constellation, but believed that the cluster of stars in this place was part of Scorpio, its claw. Later, the Romans separated the area into an independent constellation.

Legend associates the constellation with the scales of Dike, the goddess of justice. It says that it was Zeus's responsibility to establish order in the Universe. He was helped by other goddesses, one of which was Themis, who supported the rule of law. Their daughter Dike walked with a bandage on her face that hid her eyes and walked around the Earth with scales in her hands. Her duties included telling Zeus about various unjust acts and non-compliance with laws, after which Zeus severely punished the violators. The scales accurately measured the degree of guilt and the degree of punishment. The constellation serves as a reminder of this.

The main stars of Libra

Zuben Elgenubi is one of the brightest stars (in 2nd place) of Libra. It is translated from Arabic as “southern claw”, and in Latin it is called “southern bowl”. Zuben Elgenubi is a double star: its main star is a blue giant, and the second is a pale yellow satellite. It is difficult to see without special optics; it is often obscured by other celestial objects.

Arabs call Zuben el Shemali “the northern claw.” It is white-blue, and its temperature is 12 thousand K. When viewed from Earth, it may appear green, this is its uniqueness. It is believed that the star has a satellite that sometimes obscures it, making it paler than usual.

Zuben el Aqrab is the name of the next star, translated as “scorpion claw.” It is an orange giant with a temperature of 4822 K and a diameter 14 times larger than the Sun.

The sign of Libra gives people airiness, lightness of character, and a penchant for adventure. They really love what stars from the virtual Galaxy can become.

Compatibility horoscope: what the zodiac sign Libra looks like in the sky - the most complete description, only proven theories based on astrological observations of several millennia.

There are many myths associated with the dozen constellations of zodiac signs in the sky. Many believe that being born under one sign or another determines the characteristics of a person’s character and life path. And very often people are interested in why only these constellations were chosen as patrons of people being born.

Zodiac constellations and zodiac signs

The Sun and Moon make their annual journey across the sky along a certain path. And in a year they pass through 12 constellations, which were called the constellations of the zodiac signs. An ordinary horoscope compares a person’s date of birth with the passage through the zodiacal constellation of the Sun, but there is also a lunar horoscope that compares a person’s birthday with the position of the earth’s satellite in the sky.

It is worth noting that dates were initially marked with the help of zodiacal constellations, because... it was just a calendar. The passage of the Sun through one zodiac sign was approximately a month. Today, the beginning of entering a new zodiac sign has shifted - it falls on the first days of the third trimester of the month. This happened because the point of the equinox (spring) gradually shifts - by 1 degree over 70 years.

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Libra (constellation)

Scales(lat. Libra) - zodiacal constellation lying between Scorpio And Virgo. Contains 83 stars visible to the naked eye. Constellation Libra- one of the most prominent constellations Zodiac, despite the fact that only five of its stars are brighter than 4th magnitude. Sun is in the constellation from October 31 to November 24. The most favorable visibility conditions are in April - May.

click on the image to enlarge it

Zuben el Shemali (β Lib) - 2.61 m
Zuben el Genoubi (α Lib) - 2.75 m

Snake (head)
Ophiuchus
Scorpion
Hydra
Centaurus (angle)

The best time for observation is April, May.

Initially, the stars of the constellation were part of Scorpio. As an independent constellation in the ancient tradition, it took shape quite late, around the 2nd century BC. e.. However, mentions of Libra are found earlier, for example, and Arat of Soli writes about the constellation in the poem “Appearances and Predictions” (III century BC). However, even in the 1st century BC, Virgil proposes to create a new constellation in this place, dedicated to the Emperor Augustus, cutting down the constellation Scorpio.

During the period when the constellation was established as an independent constellation, the name “Claws” was used for it: the claws of the constellation Scorpio were meant. During this period, the corresponding group of stars was sometimes interpreted as an asterism, sometimes as a constellation. In particular, in Ptolemy's Almagest the constellation is described as a separate constellation "Claw". At the same time, the name “Libra” was used for the corresponding zodiac sign, probably of Asian Minor origin. This name becomes commonly used for the constellation around the 1st century BC. e.. Libra is the only constellation of the zodiac that represents an inanimate object. Researchers believe that this is due specifically to the late formation of the constellation.

According to some authors, in the beginning the constellation represented an altar; then it was depicted as an altar, a lamp, but usually as scales grasped in the claws of Scorpio or with the claws of Scorpio lying on the scales; later the claws “let go of the prey” and shortened. Until now, the stars α and β Libra are called the Southern and Northern Claws.

Ancient mythologists considered the constellation an attribute of Themis, Demeter or Nemesis ascended to heaven.

The brightest stars in the constellation form a rectangle:

* α Libra, Zuben el Genubi (“Southern Claw”) - visual double with gloss components 5.15m, 2.75m

* β Libra, Zuben el Shemali, (“Northern Claw”);

* γ Libra, Zuben el Akrab ("Scorpion's Claw");

* δ Libra is an eclipsing variable star, changing brightness from 4.8 to 6.0 magnitude with a period of 2.3 days;

* σ Libra, semi-regular variable star.

α and β Libra represent the "yoke" of the scales, and γ and σ the "bowls".

* Gliese 581, a red dwarf with four planets, one of them - (Gliese 581 d - (eng. Gliese 581d)) is located in the habitable zone of this star and belongs to the Super-Earth class. Due to the fact that the planet is located inside the habitable zone, liquid water can exist on it, and therefore life in the form that Earth scientists understand. This made the planet an object of intense study. On October 9, 2008, an AMFE radio message was sent to the star Gliese 581, and an HFE radio message was sent on August 28, 2009.

Constellation Libra from the Atlas "Uranographia" by J. E. Bode (Berlin 1801)

click on the image to enlarge it

Constellation Libra from the Atlas "Urania's Mirror" (London, 1825)

Libra, the zodiac sign)

Scales(Latin libra) - the seventh sign of the zodiac, corresponding to the ecliptic sector from 180° to 210°, counting from the vernal equinox. Venus is considered the patron planet of the sign of Libra.

In Western astrology, it is believed that the Sun is in the sign of Libra from approximately September 24 to October 23, in Vedic astrology - from October 16 to November 15. The sign of Libra should not be confused with the constellation Libra, in which the Sun is located from October 31 to November 22.

The Libra symbol ♎ (may not be displayed in some browsers) is found under Unicode decimal number 9806 or hexadecimal number 264E and can be entered into HTML code as ♎ or ♎.

Illustrations

Images of the constellation on coins of Belarus (silver)

Images of the constellation on Ukrainian coins (silver)

What does the zodiac sign Libra look like?

"Libra" is the second air sign of the zodiac and the seventh from the point of the vernal equinox. ecliptic sector 180 - 210 degrees.

The constellation Libra is not large in size in the visible part of our sky; it consists of double stars. Two thousand years ago, the sun was in the constellation Libra during the autumn equinox, therefore, as a symbol of the balance between light and night, the name of the constellation was given - Libra. The constellation personifies the desire for perfection.

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Nowadays, “Libra” is a symbol of the struggle of opposites in the pursuit of the ideal. The ratio of bad and good, beautiful and ugly, big and small, etc.

Libra: constellation in the sky (photo)

The night sky has been of interest to man since ancient times. Each of his drawings has its own story. Today our focus is on Libra, a constellation that is part of the zodiac circle and contains many interesting objects.

Many celestial drawings used in drawing up horoscopes are quite clearly visible. The constellation Libra is not one of them. The luminaries that make it up are mostly dim. Its two brightest points, alpha and beta, belong to the second magnitude. The remaining luminaries are poorly visible to an observer not armed with a telescope. Libra, one might say, is on the border between the bright zodiacal constellations of the Northern Hemisphere and the inconspicuous ones located in the Southern.

Part of Scorpio

Libra is a constellation that is somewhat younger than its other horoscope companions. Initially it was part of Scorpio, and only in the 2nd century BC. e. became separate. In the period preceding this, the constellation was depicted either in the form of an altar, or as a lamp, or as scales itself. Moreover, these objects were placed in the claws of Scorpio. There is, however, an opinion that Libra was perceived as a separate constellation already in the ancient Sumerian civilization.

If we turn to antiquity, this celestial drawing is found on the pages of Ptolemy’s famous treatise “Almagest”. There it is called “Scorpion Claws”. In parallel with this designation of a group of stars, there was a separate name “Libra”, which was part of the zodiac and came to Greece from Asia.

The late appearance of this celestial pattern is also associated with the fact that it represents the only inanimate object among the astrological signs. The origin of Libra today is evidenced by the preserved names of its two bright stars, translated meaning “southern and northern claw.”

Legendary

Libra is a zodiac sign, a constellation symbolizing harmony. Many legends of the ancient world are associated with it. In Ancient Greece, scales were considered an attribute of the goddess Themis, the wife of the thunderer Zeus, who ensured the observance of justice in the world. The image we are familiar with today includes a blindfold and a sword. It is believed that the latter attribute is the result of the influence of Roman culture. The Greek Themis always held in her hand not a sword, but scales and a cornucopia, in order to fairly distribute rewards. According to legend, Zeus immortalized his wife's instrument by placing it in the sky.

There is another version of the origin of the constellation. In it, Libra is associated with the name of the Roman emperor Augustus the Just. After his death, the people, grateful to the ruler for his kindness, wished to place a constellation in the sky in his honor. For this purpose, Scorpio was “curtailed” and a symbol of equality and justice shone between him and Virgo.

The stars in the constellation Libra are quite dim. However, there are also noteworthy objects here. The brightest point of the design is the “Zuben el Shemali” (“northern claw”), or beta Libra. The star is a blue-white main sequence dwarf.

Beta Libra rotates 100 times faster than the Sun. The star's simple spectrum allows scientists to actively use it to obtain information about the interstellar medium.

There is a mystery associated with the Northern Claw. According to Ptolemy and Eratosthenes, Beta Libra shone much brighter in Antiquity. Astronomers do not yet understand what causes the decrease in luminosity.

The second brightest point of this celestial pattern is alpha Libra. It is called "Tooth Elgenubi" ("southern claw"). This is a multiple star system, the main component of which is a hot blue star. The satellite is located at a fairly impressive distance from it. It is defined as a yellowish star with a proper motion similar to that of its companion. It is not entirely clear whether the luminaries are physically connected. The reason to doubt this is the enormous distance (140 times further than from the Sun to Pluto) separating them. If the stars are connected, then their orbital period must exceed 200 thousand years.

The brighter component of the proposed system is also a binary star. Its components are located very close to each other, and therefore are poorly distinguishable. The distance between them is almost equal to the path from the Sun to Mercury.

Libra is a constellation with more than one multiple system. The third brightest star consists of several components. This is the Libra scale, also called "Zuben el Aqrab" ("scorpio claw"). The brightest element of the system is the orange giant. Its diameter exceeds that of the Sun by 14 times. Gamma Libra is ahead of the center of our planetary system both in mass and luminosity (2.5 and 71 times, respectively). To date, the exact age of this space object remains a mystery. According to various estimates, it ranges from 1 to 3.9 billion years.

The second companion is located at a short distance from the first and is somewhat dimmer than it. Presumably, it consists of two stars.

Planetary system

Libra is a constellation that includes a star around which planets suitable for life may possibly revolve. This is Gliese 581 or Wolf 562, a red dwarf star 20.4 light years away from the Sun. It is included in the list of one hundred stars closest to us.

In 2010, the planetary system Gliese 581 was thought to contain 6 objects. Three of them, according to scientists. were located in an area suitable for life. Conditions on such planets are suitable for the existence of liquid water and life in the form familiar to us. However, studies in subsequent years gave conflicting results. Some of them refuted the possibility of the existence of some planets, while others confirmed it. Among astronomers today there is no consensus on this issue.

The constellation Libra is small and inconspicuous, but in its vastness there are a lot of interesting objects. Ancient astronomers and compilers of horoscopes turned their attention to it, and it is not deprived of attention in our days. The constellation Libra in the sky is thus the object of many scientific studies.

Constellation Libra

“Two signs are called the signs of the equinox: one of them, Aries, follows the point of the spring, the other Libra - the autumnal equinox; they also received the name because of what happens in them, since the presence of the Sun at the beginning of these signs is characterized by equal lengths of day and night. "

Claudius Ptolemy – On the influence of the stars – “Mathematical treatise in four parts”

“The constellation Libra is a continuation of the series of publications “Constellations”, started at the request of a person teaching astronomy at school (Forum).

– Astronomy is currently not a compulsory subject and is taught optionally. "

Constellation Libra ( ♎, Libra) is the seventh largest constellation of the zodiac group 1 . Among all the constellations of the celestial sphere (nebosphere), Libra occupies 29th place, and among the constellations of the Southern Hemisphere - 10th (538 sq. degrees). The lines of the celestial equator and ecliptic pass through the constellation, while most of the constellation Libra is located above (north) of the ecliptic line, but below the celestial equator line and therefore belongs to the southern part of the sky.

The constellation Libra is located south of the celestial equator, surrounded by constellations little known to northerners - the Serpent, Ophiuchus, Scorpion, Wolf, Hydra, Virgo, Centaurus, so information on how to find this zodiac constellation will not be superfluous.

The Sun is currently passing through the constellation Libra from October 31 to November 22, in just three weeks: Libra (Libra, ♎ ) is one of the three smallest zodiacal constellations along the ecliptic in the modern starry sky!

The best conditions for observing the constellation Libra occur between May 1 and May 23 (Libra culminates at midnight).

Stars and outline diagram of the constellation Libra

In order to obtain a schematic drawing of equal-armed scales with bowls, it turns out that it is quite enough to use the seven brightest stars of the constellation. Two stars of the 3rd magnitude Zuben Elgenubi (α Lib; 2.75), Zuben Elshemali (α Lib; 2.75) and five stars close to the 4th: σ Lib; 3.25, υ Lib; 3.60, τ Lib; 3.66, γ Lib; 3.98, θ Lib; 4.1. Our version of the outline image (diagram) of the constellation is shown in Figure 2:

Rice. 2 Constellation Libra ( ♎ , Libra – lat.). The brightest stars.

Outline drawing of Libra, which may have determined the modern boundaries of the constellation

The astronomers of ancient civilizations, who inherited the modern contours of the constellations to us, lived mainly in tropical and subtropical latitudes and observed the stars of the zodiac belt in a completely different way from how we, the inhabitants of the North, see them. At the latitude of Athens and, especially, Alexandria, the constellations of the zodiac pass near the zenith, and the ecliptic line is almost perpendicular to the horizon. Only the constellation Libra, which has risen in the east, looks something like this:

Rice. 3 Constellation Libra - southern rising. Diagram (Star Chart)

In the constellation Libra there are very few bright stars, as well as combinations of possible outline images, however, this figure shows our own version of the star chart (outline image) of Libra, although it looks more like a swing or a carousel.

In the time of Ptolemy, all zodiac constellations were animate, and Libra was the only zodiac sign that did not have its own constellation. In the night sky, the sign of Libra was allocated equal parts of the area in the constellation Virgo and the constellation Scorpio.

In the area of the sky corresponding to the modern constellation Libra, Claudius Ptolemy in his catalog "Almagest" provides a description of the asterism 2 “Claws of Scorpio”, and, for some reason, structures it as a separate constellation. Only at the end of ancient times does the asterism “Libra” appear in references within the constellation Scorpio, which first turned into a separate constellation during the era of the highest rise of the Roman Empire, when the goddess Justitia was placed on a pedestal with scales in her hands.

Therefore, it is better to consider the constellation Libra together with the northern part of its progenitor - the constellation Scorpio:

Rice. 4 Constellation Libra ( ♎ , Libra – lat.), surrounding constellations. Stars forming a schematic representation of Libra.

Chart outline by stars:

Zuben Elgenubi α Libra (α Lib) – Brachium (σ Lib) – Deracrab Australis (τ Lib) – Deracrab Borealis (υ Lib) – Brachium (σ Lib) – Zuben Elshemali (β Lib) – Zuben Elakrab γ Lib (γ Lib) – θ Libra (θ Lib) – Zuben Elshemali (β Lib) – Zuben Elgenubi α Libra (α Lib) .

The constellation Libra is visible from December to September. Libra culminates at midnight during May. Within the constellation there are 83 stars visible to the naked eye.

Specially described by Ptolemy as an independent star formation, the “Claws of Scorpio” deserves a separate image (Fig. 5) - Now, look and guess: Why did Ptolemy make a separate constellation out of THIS?

As a child, I was shown the “Claw asterism,” with which you can find the constellations Scorpio and Libra. To see the asterism in the picture, either simply move the cursor over the picture or double-click on it.

All, even not very bright stars included in the asterism, have their own names - this is a chain of stars (starting from the beginning of the claw and returning to it): “fiery” Antares - Alpha Scorpii (α Sco), Akrab (β Sco), Zuben Elshemali – Beta Libra (β Lib), Chubba (δ Sco), Zuben Elgenubi (α Lib), Vrishika (π Sco) and Antares again.

“Asterism Claw, Claw of Scorpio, constellations Scorpio and Libra. Chart author Sergey Ov (Seosnews9)

Asterism Claw, Claws of Scorpio, constellation Scorpio and Libra. Chart author Sergey Ov (Seosnews9)

Sergey Ov"

Rice. 5"Claws of Scorpio" and the asterism "Claw" historically unite the constellations Scorpio and Libra. Some optimists see a swallow instead of a claw, and pessimists (and gamers) see a diving alien ship.

The “Claw” asterism is as well recognizable to residents of the tropics and subtropics as the Big Dipper is to northerners. For this reason, the constellations Libra and Scorpio are a reference area for searching for stars of neighboring constellations; moreover, in tropical latitudes, the Claw even today appears from the horizon in early spring, so the constellations Libra and Scorpio also have the honorable role of heralds of spring!

Russians living in mid-latitudes are forced to be content with the view of these constellations near the southern horizon, so perhaps it will be more convenient for someone to remember the traditional constellation diagram, when Libra is located vertically in relation to the horizon:

Rice. 6. Schematic drawing of the constellation Libra - traditional and proposed by the author (visible when moving the cursor)

After the contours and brightest stars of the constellation have been studied to the point of automatic recognition, you can begin to search for the constellation Libra directly in the starry sky.

How to find the constellation Libra

To find the constellation Libra, first of all, you need to remember that in mid-latitudes this constellation does not rise high above the horizon and is fully visible only when it is in the southern part of the sky.

The easiest way to find the three brightest stars of Libra (the bright ones are blue and white, the orange one is dimmer) is using neighboring constellations, but firstly you need to know them, and secondly they are not always visible or not completely visible.

Most people are able, with the help of their imagination, to brilliantly use the axiom of belonging, so let’s look for well-known pairs of stars, “aiming” with the help of lines drawn through which will guide us to the constellation Libra.

1. The shortest and most accurate sight is obtained from the constellation Bootes. If you are familiar with the Parachute asterism, then select two stars: the first, Seguin, Gamma Bootes (γ Boo), located on the right edge of the “parachute dome”; the second, Isar, Epsilon Boötes (ε Boo) is located in the middle of the left “line”, draw a line through them and follow it to the nearest bright star, Zuben Elshemali (Fig. 7) - this is the easiest and most accurate way to find the constellation Libra.

It is worth remembering that Bootes rises before Libra, and sets later, that is, if Bootes is close to the horizon, then it is useless to look for Libra.

Rice. 7. How to find the constellation Libra based on the constellation Bootes - an accurate target for Beta Libra

2. The most universal way to determine the location of the constellation Libra is a distant approach from the north using the constellations Ursa Major, Ursa Minor, or for particularly advanced observers the constellations Cygnus and Lyra (Fig. 8):

Rice. 8. How to find the constellation Libra based on the northern sky

For novice stargazers, what's the best way to find the constellation Libra? to use the help of the stars of the Big Dipper located on the handle - this is the pair Mizar - Benetnash (η UMa - ζ UMa). It should be borne in mind that Libra will be fully visible only if the line leads to the southeast, south or southwest.

If for some reason it is not possible to use the stars of the Big Dipper, then the constellation Libra can still be found using the pairs: Polar Star - Ferkad (Ursa Minor: α UMi - γ UMi) or Deneb - Vega (Swan: α Cyg - Lyra: α Lyr).

3. The Moon, as a kind of celestial guide to the zodiac constellations, can also help you find the constellation Libra. The Moon visits Libra at least once a month. Just to avoid light exposure, it is better to start looking for a constellation, either before the Moon arrives at it, or after it passes through it. You can find out about the time of approach of the night star to the constellation Libra on the page: The Moon - a guide to the constellations

History and mythology of the constellation Libra

If we follow the traditions of classical antiquity, we can safely say that Libra is the youngest constellation of the zodiac. At the very beginning of the millennium, the treatise “Astronomy” was published, in the well-known lists of which the author is listed as “Higinus”. So in this treatise, the constellation Libra is not mentioned at all, but it is stated: “Scorpio, due to the enormity of its body, occupies the extent of two signs. Its front part is assigned to Libra, the rest - to Scorpio.” Following Hyginus, Claudius Ptolemy in his "A mathematical treatise in four parts" writes that Libra is the sign balancing between summer and autumn in nature, and between Virgo and Scorpio in the heavens.

And suddenly, in a huge fundamental work now known as “Almagest”, and called by the author himself “Mathematical collection in 13 books”, Claudius Ptolemy introduces a new constellation “Claw of Scorpio”. What's the matter?

But the fact is that in the capital of the Roman Empire, the court “astronomers” decided to exalt Emperor Augustus to the status of God and, quickly cutting off Scorpio, set aside for the emperor the most noticeable place in the southern sky.

Claudius Ptolemy in his work emphatically restores justice, returning Scorpio’s claws, fixing them in the place of the most august of the august.

Eight hundred years later, in 960, another great, already Persian, astronomer al-Sufi, who did not suspect anything about the intrigues of past years, clarifying the coordinates of the stars that had changed over the centuries, thought about the injustice committed in relation to the sign of Libra, and corrected it by placing constellation dedicated to Libra in the sky and in his “Book of Fixed Stars” (Fig. 9), only slightly shortening the left claw of Scorpio. This is how the constellation Libra appeared!

Rice. 9. The constellation Libra in the Book of Fixed Stars by al-Sufi (Al Sufi. Book of the constellations, or fixed stars. – Library of Congress. World Digital Library – informationally not the best, but the most beautiful list of the 15th century, commissioned by Ulugbek).

The astronomical community does not provide legal support for the preservation of the historical names of stars and constellations, much less the myths about them. So, go for it! You can safely write your MYTH!

In this area, everything happens according to the principle: There would be a constellation, but there would be a myth! The current descendants of the Romans, on their national Wikipedia page, dedicate to Libra the myth of Astraea, the goddess of justice, daughter of Themis. According to one version, Astraea dropped Libra at her feet when she saw a huge Scorpio. According to the other, she, on the contrary, holds Libra with her arms outstretched forward. With a certain amount of imagination, you can clearly imagine the figure of Astraea, in place of the constellation Virgo - Libra, we have already drawn.

Despite the historical youth of the constellation Libra, a whole tangle has been woven from the star patterns proposed in its place (Fig. 10)

Rice. 10. A tangle of historical lines of “fate” of the constellation Libra, the stars of the constellation and the surrounding area.

The first place in this tangle is given to the “Claw” asterism. (thin lilac outline), in second place - "Scorpio's Claws" from Ptolemy (rich lilac outline), on the third - the outline of Libra from al-Sufi (green lines), then a modern schematic drawing of the constellation Libra (white lines) and finally a diagram appears that will perhaps be best perceived by contemporaries - this is the image of a flipper (thin lilac outline). If after sunset a Lasta emerges from the horizon in the southeast, it means the swimming season has begun!

John Hevelius, in his atlas “Uranography”, usually tries to follow Ptolemy’s descriptions as accurately as possible, but in this case, in place of the “Scorpio Claw” asterism described by Ptolemy, he depicts Libra, following the tradition already established in the 17th century, thanks to al-Sufi , depict the 12 zodiac constellations. True, following al-Sufi, it turns out that Hevelius was still “greedy” and did not give Libra the three bright southern stars transferred to the constellation in our time:

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The message about the constellation Libra will tell you how the constellation Libra appeared. The legend about the constellations Libra will be interesting for every reader.

A story about the constellation Libra

The constellation Libra is the only one that is named after an object, and not a living creature, like other constellations in the zodiac circle.

The history of the emergence of the constellation Libra. How did the constellation Libra appear?

A long time ago, back in the 1st century BC, there lived a wise and fair ruler, his name was Augustus. He ruled the strongest state in history - the Roman Empire. The subjects loved their emperor very much and were grateful for his care and love for the Roman people. The great poet of that time, whose name was Virgil, proposed to highlight part of one of the constellations in honor of Emperor Augustus, thereby creating his own. Astronomers took his idea into account and “plucked off” part of the constellation Scorpio. Previously, Scorpio looked like he was holding weights in a vice. Sometimes, instead of Libra, a lamp was depicted on Scorpio’s skis. After part of the constellation Scorpio dried up and became a new constellation (Libra), it is said that Scorpio's claws became empty, as if he had unclenched them and released his prey.

The legend of the constellation Libra in Ancient Greece
There is another legend about the appearance of the constellation Libra in the sky. It appeared in Ancient Greece. The Greeks believed that order and law on earth were established by Zeus, the chief among the gods of the Greek pantheon. Only Zeus needed help, so he gave Themis magic scales with which she could weigh the good and bad deeds of people. The result determined the future fate of each individual person. -Because of her kindness, Themis did not punish people for bad deeds, she only rewarded those who do good. For such generosity, Zeus decided to perpetuate the memory of the goddess Themis and placed an image of her scales in the sky.

The legend of the constellations Libra in Ancient Egypt

The main occupation of the ancient Egyptians was agriculture. All harvesting work began in the fall. At this time, the hardworking Egyptians were busy harvesting and grinding grain. When the work of harvesting was completed, all the grain had to be weighed. He was always weighed exactly at the time when the day lasts exactly as many hours as the night lasts. On this day, the light and dark times of the day seem to weigh the same. We know it as the “autumn equinox,” which occurs on September 23. Exactly on this day the Sun falls into the constellation Libra.

How to find the constellation Libra in the sky?

The constellation Libra is located between the constellations Virgo and Scorpio. Finding Libra in the starry sky is not so easy. The thing is that there are few bright stars in the constellation that would make it easy to find it. But you can try to find it. To do this, astronomers advise starting observations of the constellation in April-May. The best assistant in finding the constellation Libra is Scorpio. Find the constellation Scorpio and continue with its claws.

What does the constellation Libra look like?

The constellation Libra bears little resemblance to the household item called a scale. This is a triangle, from the top of which, as it were, strings descend. One of these threads (right) has a green star at the end. This is the only star with a greenish tint that can be seen in the sky without using a telescope.

Compatibility horoscope: zodiac sign Libra, drawing by stars - the most complete description, only proven theories based on astrological observations of several millennia.

Part of Scorpio

Legendary

Beta Libra rotates 100 times faster than the Sun. The star's simple spectrum allows scientists to actively use it to obtain information about the interstellar medium.

The second companion is located at a short distance from the first and is somewhat dimmer than it. Presumably, it consists of two stars.

Planetary system

Libra (constellation)

click on the image to enlarge it

Zuben el Shemali (β Lib) - 2.61 m
Zuben el Genoubi (α Lib) - 2.75 m

Snake (head)
Ophiuchus
Scorpion
Hydra
Centaurus (angle)

The best time for observation is April, May.

Ancient mythologists considered the constellation an attribute of Themis, Demeter or Nemesis ascended to heaven.

The brightest stars in the constellation form a rectangle:

* α Libra, Zuben el Genubi (“Southern Claw”) - visual double with gloss components 5.15m, 2.75m

* β Libra, Zuben el Shemali, (“Northern Claw”);

* γ Libra, Zuben el Akrab ("Scorpion's Claw");

* δ Libra is an eclipsing variable star, changing brightness from 4.8 to 6.0 magnitude with a period of 2.3 days;

* σ Libra, semi-regular variable star.

α and β Libra represent the "yoke" of the scales, and γ and σ the "bowls".

Constellation Libra from the Atlas "Uranographia" by J. E. Bode (Berlin 1801)

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Constellation Libra from the Atlas "Urania's Mirror" (London, 1825)

Libra, the zodiac sign)

The Libra symbol ♎ (may not be displayed in some browsers) is found under Unicode decimal number 9806 or hexadecimal number 264E and can be entered into HTML code as ♎ or ♎.

Illustrations

Images of the constellation on coins of Belarus (silver)

Images of the constellation on Ukrainian coins (silver)

Constellations of the zodiac signs. Zodiac signs: constellations in the sky

Bright stars in the sky form characteristic figures. Such clusters are called constellations. People always look at the stars for a long time, trying to unravel the mystery of their cosmic origin. They want to find among the constellations those they once read or heard about. Twelve of the celestial figures are constellations of zodiac signs. Each of them is associated with legends that tell about its discovery and explain its name. What are these zodiac signs?

The zodiac is a certain belt of the sky along which some planets, the Moon and the Sun move, passing 12 constellations on their way. Since they are located in the zodiac field, they got their name - the constellations of the zodiac. Each of them in ancient astrology was designated or accompanied by a certain symbol called a zodiac sign. Here is a simple story of how the constellations of zodiac signs appeared.

How many are there in total?

The sun travels around a large circle of the celestial sphere in a year. This circle (called the zodiac, 360 degrees in total) is divided into 12 sectors of 30 degrees each, named after the constellations that the Sun passes on its way.

Each month corresponds to the zodiac sign in which the Sun moves in that month. Once upon a time, the constellations of the zodiac signs served people as a calendar, since the Sun traveled in each of them for about a month. But since the point of the vernal equinox constantly moves (every 70 years by 1°), the Sun today, within one month, moves not through one, but through two nearby constellations, but the designations that previously existed for months have been preserved. The Sun moves through the constellation Virgo for the longest time - 44 days, and the Sun moves through the constellation Scorpio in 6 days. To be fair, it should be noted that the Sun, between November 30 and December 18, passes through another cluster of stars - Ophiuchus, but it just so happened historically that it did not get a month, and it was not included in the constellations of zodiac signs.

Origin of names

People have come up with their own name for each constellation of zodiac signs. According to one version, the origin of the names of the zodiac signs corresponds to the labors of Hercules. Other versions are based on ancient Greek myths about the gods of Olympus. Each name and sign has its own legend. It is interesting that, despite the ancient Greek origin, all the names of the zodiac signs have been written in Latin since ancient times.

Today, astrologers name 12 zodiac signs, united by 4 elements:

earth – Capricorn, Taurus, Virgo;
waters – Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces;
fire - Aries, Leo, Sagittarius;
air - Libra, Aquarius, Gemini.

According to mystical teachings, the signs of the zodiac - constellations in the sky - endow people born under them (that is, in the month when the Sun passes a certain constellation) with certain character traits.

Aries constellation

The first spring months - March and April (21.03 - 20.04) - correspond to the zodiac sign Aries. The constellation Aries consists of 20 stars. Mesartim, Sharatan, Gamal are the three brightest stars of Aries. About 2000 years ago, the location of the vernal equinox was in Aries. According to astronomers, she will not return here soon, but after a long 24,000 years.

One of the myths tells how Aries saves Phrixus and Hella, two children who, at the behest of the evil stepmother Ino, must be sacrificed. The fate of the children turned out differently, but the memory of the golden fleece lamb was forever preserved by the starry sky.

Constellation Taurus

Taurus (April 21 – May 21) is a very noticeable constellation; an attentive observer will see up to 130 of its stars, 14 of them are visible especially clearly. The brightest are Aldebaran, Nat and the star Alcyone and Zeta Tauri. The summer solstice point is located in this constellation.

According to one legend, Taurus is identified with Zeus. He took on this image to kidnap Europa, the daughter of the Phoenician king.

In the constellation Gemini you can see about 70 stars, two of which – Castor and Pollux – are the brightest. The immense brotherly love of Castor and Pollux, which ancient Greek myths tell about, prompted people to find two shining celestial stars and call them Gemini. The sign corresponds to May and June (22.05 – 21.06).

Constellation Cancer

The summer months - June and July (22.06 - 23.07) - correspond to the zodiac sign Cancer. The constellation Cancer is very large and at the same time the weakest, it is lost against the background of its bright neighbors and brothers Leo and Gemini. In good weather at night you can see about 60 stars in the constellation without telescopic instruments. The brightest is Altarf or Beta Cancri.

Legend associates the appearance of this constellation in the sky with the name of Hercules’ irreconcilable rival Hera; it was she who lifted there the sea monster that bit Hercules during the battle with Hydra. Although according to legend it was not a cancer, but a crab, astronomers liked the first name more.

Constellation Leo

Another zodiac sign is named after the constellation Leo (July, August). The constellation Leo is the brightest in the zodiac family. Its largest star is called Regulus, which means king. The constellation is also interesting because in November, once every 33 years, you can see star showers of a meteorite shower in it.

The mythological Nemean lion (with which the appearance of the constellation is associated), born of the half-woman, half-snake Echidna, was able to defeat the illegitimate son of Zeus, Hercules. And the great Thunderer immortalized his son’s victory by lifting the defeated monster into heaven.

Constellation Virgo

Virgo is a large cluster of stars in the zodiac, 164 of its stars are visible without a telescope or spyglass. The brightest is Spica. In our era, the autumnal equinox is located in the constellation Virgo. The zodiac sign corresponds to August and September.

Numerous legends connect the Virgin either with Rhea, the mother of Zeus, or with Themis, or Gaia, the earth mother.

Constellation Libra

Libra – the months of September and October. Once upon a time, its constituent stars were part of the constellation Scorpio, but, having moved away, they subsequently formed a new constellation. The origin of the constellation is associated with the daughter of Zeus Astraea, who, without getting tired, walked the earth, assessing the unjust and fair deeds of people with the help of scales.

It consists of 83 stars, the brightest of which are Zuben el Shemali and Zuben el Genubi.

Scorpio has also found its place among the zodiac signs. This southern zodiac constellation is one of the brightest in the sky, it has 17 stars, the brightest of which is Antares.

As the myths tell, Scorpio, who fatally stung the young hunter Orion, settled next to him forever in the heavens. This zodiac sign corresponds to October and November.

Sagittarius (months November and December) is the brightest cluster of stars. 115 stars of the constellation will appear before the attentive gaze of the observer, of which 14 stars are very bright, the championship is held by Alnazl, Albaldakh, Kaus Borealis, Kaus Meridianalis, Askella, Nunki and Kaus Australis.

This is a very interesting part of the sky. There are three nebulae, the center of the galaxy and a supermassive black hole. The constellation Sagittarius is the winter solstice point.

Sagittarius is the image of the mighty mythological centaur, forever rushing across the sky.

The zodiac sign Capricorn corresponds to December and January. Without telescopic equipment, 86 stars of this cluster can be seen. Beta Capricorn is the brightest of all.

There are many legends about this constellation. Ancient Greek mythology says that Capricorn was the son of Hermes. He, frightened by the hundred-headed Titan, rushed into the sea. After which his appearance changed greatly, he turned into a goat with a fish tail. The gods were amazed at the sight of the monster and took him to heaven.

Aquarius (months January and February) is another large cluster of stars on the solar path, with seven stars being the brightest. Aquarius is easily visible at night between August and October. Closer to the second half of summer, active meteorite showers can be observed in the constellation. Aquarius is also famous for the fact that it contains the huge Helix Nebula, which is closest to Earth. According to ancient legends, the name of the constellation means “master of the waters.”

The zodiac sign Pisces corresponds to February and March. The largest star in the constellation is Alrisha. There are 75 visible stars in the cluster. This is the point of the spring equinox.

According to mythological legends, fish are lovers Akid and Galatea. Pursued by the Cyclops Polyphemus, who was in love with Galatea, they, in order not to be separated, rushed into the depths of the sea and were swallowed up by it. The gods took the lovers to heaven and gave them eternal life in the constellation Pisces.

Libra

– The Sun and Moon are in the sign of Libra. History of the sign, description, characteristics.

The sign of Libra is, in general, changeable and fickle; its leading and middle parts are moderate, the latter is aquatic. The northern parts are windy, the southern parts are wet and disastrous.

Claudius Ptolemy – About the weather – “Tetrabiblos”

Libra, ♎ – denotes the seventh 30-degree segment of the zodiacal belt, when counting from the point of the vernal equinox (Fig. 2), with ecliptic coordinates 180°, ±5°19′; 210°, ±5°19′.

Libra is the seventh sign of the zodiac, corresponds to the beginning of astronomical autumn.

In 2017, the Sun is in the sign of Libra from 22 September 2017 23:02 By October 23, 2017 08:26 MSK(Moscow time). The average dates when the Sun is in this zodiac sector are September 23 – October 22.

This sign received its name according to Ptolemy, “Libra... received its name because of what is happening in them, since the presence of the Sun at the beginning of the sign is characterized by equal lengths of day and night,” which at this moment are “balanced.” Unlike all other signs, initially, Libra was a sign without a constellation, and it was the name of the zodiac sign that subsequently forced astronomers to identify the constellation Libra (Fig. 3), in the part of the constellation Scorpio occupied by this sign at the beginning of our era. (Ptolemy does not mention the constellation Libra in his works). In our time, due to precession* - a cyclical change in the direction of the earth's axis relative to the stars, the Sun comes to the constellation Libra only in the sign of Scorpio, and then only from October 31 (Fig. 2):

Fig.2 The zodiac sign is Libra, the constellation Libra and their relative position in a spherical projection (in the ancient view, the heavens consisted of several nested spheres surrounding the Earth).

The ancient Greeks did not have a “lifeless” constellation corresponding to the sign of Libra - the section of the starry sky in the vicinity of the ecliptic, corresponding to Libra, accounted for the border and adjacent areas of the constellations Virgo and Scorpio, and due to the influence of the Moon, Libra received either a large area of Virgo or Scorpio . Later, Libra appeared in the sky with its own constellation, but alas, the laws of celestial mechanics “tipped” the scales of Libra into the constellation Virgo (Fig. 3):

Rice. 3. The zodiac sign Libra is a section of the starry sky corresponding to the sign of Libra.

The area of the sign of Aries in our time lies entirely in the constellation Virgo (this placement of the sign gives it an additional dose of femininity). The thin red line in the figure is the line of the celestial equator, as you can see it intersects with the ecliptic precisely at the border of the sign: when the Sun reaches this point, the Autumnal Equinox occurs

The philosophers of antiquity endowed the sign of Libra with the following properties:

– Zodiac sign Libra (Libra - Latin, ♎ ), which gave its name and independence to the constellation Libra, is a male sign (according to the rules of alternation), in addition, Libra is the second “airy” abode of Venus.

– The sign of Libra represents the origin and development of the element (element) Air and, accordingly, gravitates towards one of the essences of this element – humidity. The embodiment of the properties of this primary element in a person born under the Sun in this sign, from time to time, manifests a sanguine type of temperament (as the main component).

– In ancient times, Libra was distinguished by the following characteristics and properties: based on its location relative to the plane of the celestial equator of the constellation Libra – southern; according to seasonality – autumn; the following metals are in harmony with the sign of Libra: copper (from Venus), brass and bronze, noble metal - gold (Venus loves jewelry); precious stones - sapphire, opal, jasper, topaz.

And also at the sign Scales there is one important feature - this is the sign of the autumn equinox and the last sign in which the Sun can still, for the most part, play a decisive role in determining the temperament of people born during the period of the luminary's stay in this sign.

Libra sign, Sun and planets

The ancient Greeks believed that when passing through the zodiac sector of Libra, the Sun, Moon and other planets had approximately the following possibilities of influencing earthly processes:

☉ Sun. In the sign of Libra, the power of influence of the Sun on the course of earthly life is already significantly weakening (from 1 1/3 to 1 conditional point - the power of influence on earthly processes at the moment of exaltation or fall is taken as 1 point). Libra is a sign of the decline in the influence of the Sun, in the following In these signs the influence of the Sun is less and less;

♀ Venus gives Libra, her second abode, fertility (the strength of her influence as a mistress ranges from 2 to 1 2/3 points);

♃ Jupiter in Libra comes into full force (2 points);

☿ Mercury in the sign of Libra continues to increase its own power of influence (from 1 1/3 to 1 2/3 points);

♄ Saturn– in Libra it comes into force and begins to show its essence: cold (from 2/3 to 1 point), Libra is the sign of the exaltation of Saturn.

Libra sign, nature, weather and plants

In fact, the relationship between the position of the Moon in the sky and the well-being of the plant world was noticed seven thousand years ago by the mysterious Sumerians. The ancient Greeks accepted and enriched their experience with their philosophical views. Despite the fact that the Greeks attributed variability and inconstancy to Libra as a sign, the Moon in Libra was believed to have a beneficial effect on plants. Particularly great importance was attached to the “interaction” of the Moon with the signs of the zodiac, its phases, when choosing the time of sowing or planting plants - a separate article is devoted to this topic: Moon in Libra - Zodiac sign Libra, Moon and plants.

For those who currently have no desire to delve into issues of crop production related to this sign, I will tell you the main thing: Libra, in the sense of interaction with the Moon, is the third most fertile sign.

Unlike plants for the weather, the presence of the Moon in Libra does not always foretell well-being; one can even say that, on the contrary, the instability and inconstancy of this sign are fully manifested. The Moon in Libra favors precipitation; when passing through the northern part of the sign, precipitation with winds is likely; when passing through the southern part, precipitation of high intensity or very long is likely.

Libra sign and people

“Libras are characterized by high plasticity of interests and moods, they quickly get used to new surroundings, easily meet new people and have a wide circle of acquaintances.”

I repeat, informing that ancient Greek thinkers believed: A person’s character is formed under the influence of his life experience, and the zodiac sign determines, for those born under it, only the dominant temperament and fortitude (according to Ptolemy: “resistance to fate” - Ptolemy himself, although he describes in detail the technique of prediction according to the stars of a person’s character and destiny, but emphasizes that Alexandrian healers turned to her only if the person was severely weakened by illness or was in an unconscious state).

The dominant type of temperament for those born under the sign of Libra is sanguine**, but since Libra symbolizes youth and the development of the element “air”, despite their high fortitude, manifestations of temperament often prevail - a person is rash and can commit actions dictated by emotions. This is dangerous because emotions in sanguine people arise quickly and quickly change - those born in Libra need to learn to control themselves. It should be noted that manifestations of sanguine temperament fade with age, a pronounced sanguine person becomes more harmonious.

The question of compatibility of “Libra” in relationships with each other and with people born under other zodiac signs, which interests many, is discussed in an article specially dedicated to this issue: Compatibility by zodiac sign and temperament. Types of temperament according to Hippocrates. For those who do not have the desire to delve into this issue, it can be schematically outlined as follows: those born under the Sun in the sign of Libra are most compatible with those born under the sign of Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces, difficulties in relationships may arise with those born in Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn.

Zodiac sign Libra and Russia

Events in the history of Russia under the Sun in the sign of Libra:

October 12, 1350- was born Dmitry Donskoy, Grand Duke of Vladimir and Moscow;

September 27, 1657- Princess Sofya Romanova, daughter of Alexei Mikhailovich, regent under princes Peter and Ivan, was born;

October 22, 1702 – capture from the Swedes storming the Oreshek fortress - Noterburg– Shlissenburg on the Neva;

September 24, 1739- birth of Grigory Aleksandrovich Potemkin - statesman, field marshal general;

October 18, 1867– the official transfer of Alaska from the Russian Empire to the United States took place;

October 1, 1988- The USSR national football team became the Olympic champion, defeating the Brazilians 2:1.

Following the sign of Libra, the eighth zodiac sector is called Zodiac sign Scorpio

Work on the article “Zodiac Sign Libra” will continue periodically (probably when

Abstracts: Zodiac sign Libra and people, nature, Russia. Zodiac sign Libra, temperament – About compatibility.

* Constellation Libra

Only at the end of ancient times did the Libra asterism appear in the constellation Scorpio, which turned into a separate constellation during the era of the highest rise of the Roman Empire, when the goddess Justitia was placed on a pedestal with scales in her hands.

Due to the precession of the earth's axis, the constellations shift over time relative to the vernal equinox and the apparent movement of the Sun through them occurs with increasing delay. The constellations, having gone around the entire zodiac circle, return to their original places after 25,776 years.

The Sun is currently passing through the constellation Libra from October 31 to November 22, in just three weeks: Libra (Libra, ♎ ) is one of the three smallest modern zodiac constellations in the starry sky!

Rice. 4 The constellation Libra (Libra - lat.), the brightest stars.

Outline drawing of Libra, defining the boundaries of the constellation

The ancient Greeks, who inherited the modern contours of the constellations, observed the stars of the zodiac belt in a completely different way from how we see them in our middle latitudes. At the latitude of Athens and especially Alexandria, they pass close to the zenith, and the ecliptic line is almost perpendicular to the horizon.

Rice. 5 Constellation Libra. Diagram (Star Chart)

In the constellation Libra there are very few bright stars, as well as combinations of possible outline images, however, the figure shows our own version of the star diagram (outline image) of Libra, although it looks more like a swing or a carousel.

Jan Hevelius, in his atlas “Uranography”, usually tries to follow Ptolemy’s descriptions as accurately as possible, but in this case, in place of the asterism “Scorpio’s Claw” described by Ptolemy, he will depict Libra, following the tradition already established in the 17th century, to depict the 12 zodiac constellations. True, following Ptolemy and Tycho Brahe, it turns out that Hevelius was still “greedy” and did not give Libra the three bright southern stars transferred to the constellation in our time:

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