Although the Libra constellation It has a binary star system, it is not the best defined in the sky. The Sun can be observed in the northern hemisphere from January to July and appears from October 31 to November 23. Although it is composed of faint stars, its brightest star, Zuben el-Schamali, is known as the Claw of the North. Amateur observers may find it somewhat difficult to identify its scaly shape in the sky, as it requires a lot of imagination. Libra is also known as the zodiac sign.
In this article we are going to tell you everything you need to know about the Libra constellation, its characteristics, mythology and more.
Key features
The constellation Libra is one of the 88 recognized constellations in the night sky. It is located in the southern hemisphere and is one of the constellations of the zodiac. The name "Libra" comes from Latin and means "balance." This constellation represents the scales held by the goddess Justice, who in Roman mythology is associated with the Greek goddess Themis. Libra is a symbol of fairness and balance.
The constellation of Libra is located among the constellations of Virgo and Scorpio in the zodiac. It is one of the smallest constellations and is located in a region rich in bright stars. The most notable stars in Libra are Zubenelgenubi (α Librae) and Zubeneschamali (β Librae). These two stars They represent the plates of the scales and are quite bright and easy to identify in the sky.
This constellation is known for hosting spectacular celestial objects such as nebulae or star clusters. However, some double stars and multiple star systems can be observed with telescopes.
It is one of the constellations of the zodiac, which means that the Sun, Moon and planets often pass through this region of the sky during their movements throughout the year. He is especially relevant to astrology, where characteristics related to justice, harmony and balanced decision-making are attributed to him.
To observe Libra in the night sky, it is easiest in spring in the northern hemisphere and in autumn in the southern hemisphere. It is an interesting constellation for amateur starry sky observers, since its scale shape is distinctive and easy to identify.
Stars of the constellation Libra
These are all the main stars that belong to the Libra constellation:
- Zubenelgenubi (α Librae): Also known as Alfa Librae, this star is the brightest in Libra and represents the lower plate of the scales. It is a binary star, meaning it is actually made up of two stars orbiting each other. Both stars are of spectral type A0, which makes them relatively hot and luminous.
- Zubeneschamali (β Librae): Known as Beta Librae, this star is the second brightest in the constellation and represents the upper plate of the scales. Like Zubenelgenubi, it is a binary star composed of two stars of spectral type B8. They are bright blue stars.
- Brachium (σ Librae): Brachium is an orange giant star of spectral type K0, making it visible to the naked eye. This star is part of a triple stellar association in which two companion stars orbit Brachium.
- Gienah (ε1 Librae and ε2 Librae): Although they are technically two separate stars, ε1 Librae and ε2 Librae are stars very close to each other and together form a binary star. Both stars are orange giants of spectral type K0.
- δ Librae (Delta Librae): Delta Librae is a yellow giant star of spectral type G7. Despite not being as bright as the previous ones, it is still an interesting star in the constellation.
Mythology
The Libra constellation has a rich mythological history dating back to ancient Greece and Rome. Its mythological origin is closely related to the goddess of justice and balance. In Roman mythology, Libra represents the scales held by the goddess Justice, known as "Justitia" in Latin. However, The image of the scales as a symbol of fairness and balance dates back to Greek mythology, where he is associated with the goddess Themis.
According to Greek mythology, Themis was an ancient Titanic goddess, daughter of Uranus (Heaven) and Gaea (Earth). She temis was considered the personification of divine law and justice, and she was also associated with cosmic balance. She held a scale in which she weighed human actions and determined justice in the world.
The constellation Libra is located near the constellation of , which It is associated with the harvest goddess, Demeter, in Greek mythology. The idea of balance and justice in the harvest and distribution of resources on Earth is linked to the scales of Libra and the mythology of Themis. Due to its association with justice and balance, Libra is also one of the zodiac constellations. In Western astrology, Libra is considered to influence personalities born under this sign, providing characteristics related to the search for fairness, making balanced decisions, and harmony in relationships.
History of the Libra constellation
The story is linked to its evolution throughout history and its inclusion in the official list of recognized constellations. Libra was not originally included in the list of classical constellations of Ptolemy, who compiled a list of 48 constellations in his work "Almagest" in the XNUMXnd century AD. However, The region in which Libra is located was considered a part of the constellation of Scorpio. The current stars of Libra were known as the "pincers" of Scorpio.
The inclusion as an independent constellation occurred later, in the 1603th century, thanks to the influence of European astronomers and cartographers. In particular, the German astronomer Johannes Bayer included Libra in his star atlas "Uranometria" in XNUMX. With this addition, It was officially established as a separate constellation in Western tradition.
Throughout history, the image of the scales in Libra has undergone some variations in its representation. Initially, it was associated with the scales held by the goddesses Themis or Justitia. However, in some ancient depictions, a scorpion was shown holding the scales, reflecting the ancient connection with Scorpio.
I hope that with this information you can learn more about the Libra constellation and its characteristics.