Scorpius, the Scorpion (Sco)
(SCOR-pee-us)
The Southern constellation of Scorpius, the Scorpion, is best viewed in Summer during the month of July. It's brightest star is Antares at magnitude 0.96. The boundary of the Scorpius constellation contains 17 stars that host known exoplanets.
Red hypergiant AH Scorpii is the 8th largest known star in the universe at 1,400 times the size of the Sun.
- Pronunciation:
- SCOR-pee-us
- Meaning:
- Scorpion
- Genitive:
- Scorpii
- Abbreviation:
- Sco
- Asterism:
- Fish Hook
- Constellation Family:
- Zodiacal
- Hemisphere:
- Southern
- Quadrant:
- SQ3
- Best viewing month*:
- July
- Right Ascension (avg):
- 16h 52m
- Declination (avg):
- -35° 20'
- Brightest star:
- Antares (0.96)
- Stars with planets:
- 17
- X-ray stars:
- stars
Brightest Stars in Scorpius
The 10 brightest stars in the constellation Scorpius by magnitude.
- Star
- Magnitude
- Spectral class
- Alpha Scorpii (α Sco)
- 0.91
- M1.5Iab-b
- Lambda Scorpii (λ Sco)
- 1.62
- B2IV+DA7.9
- Theta Scorpii (θ Sco)
- 1.86
- F1II
- Delta Scorpii (δ Sco)
- 2.29
- B0.2IVe
- Epsilon Scorpii (ε Sco)
- 2.29
- K2IIIb
- Kappa Scorpii (κ Sco)
- 2.39
- B1.5III
- Beta Scorpii (β1 Sco)
- 2.62
- B0.5V
- Upsilon Scorpii (υ Sco)
- 2.7
- B2IV
- Tau Scorpii (τ Sco)
- 2.82
- B0V
- Pi Scorpii (π Sco)
- 2.89
- B1V + B2V
Double Stars in Scorpius
These are the brightest and easiest-to-find double, triple, and quadruple star systems in the constellation Scorpius. Also see all star clusters.
- Star system
- Magnitudes
- Type
- Xi Scorpii
- 4.9, 7.3
- double
- Struve 1999
- 7.5, 8.1
- double
- Beta Scorpii
- 2.6, 4.5
- double
- Nu Scorpii
- 4.4, 6.6
- double
Star Clusters in Scorpius
The most notable and easy-to-find star clusters in the constellation Scorpius . Also see all star clusters.
- Star cluster
- Catalog #
- Cluster type
- Butterfly Cluster
- M6
- open
- Caldwell 76
- C76
- open
- Djorgovski 1
- globular
- ESO 452-SC 11
- globular
- FSR 1758
- globular
- Messier 4
- M4
- globular
- Messier 80
- M80
- globular
- NGC 6139
- globular
- NGC 6144
- globular
- NGC 6242
- open
- NGC 6256
- globular
- NGC 6281
- open
- NGC 6380
- globular
- NGC 6388
- globular
- NGC 6441
- globular
- NGC 6453
- globular
- NGC 6496
- globular
- Ptolemy Cluster
- M7
- open
- Terzan 2
- globular
- Terzan 3
- globular
- Terzan 6
- globular
- Tonantzintla 2
- globular
Nebulae in Scorpius
Notable and easy-to-find nebulae in the constellation Scorpius . Also see all nebulae.
- Nebula name
- Catalog #
- Nebula type
- Bug Nebula
- C69
- planetary
- Cat's Paw Nebula
- diffuse
- Fried Egg Nebula
- protoplanetary
- War and Peace Nebula
- diffuse
Neutron Stars in Scorpius
These are the most well-known neutron stars in the constellation Scorpius. Although neutron stars cannot be seen in any amateur telescope, they are at the center of many supernova remnant nebulae, which can be seen. Also see all neutron stars.
Black Holes in Scorpius
These are the most well-known smaller (non-supermassive) black holes in the constellation Scorpius. Although black holes cannot be seen directly, the smaller ones are at the center of some star clusters and supernova remnant nebulae, which can be seen. Supermassive black holes are at the center of most galaxies, such as Sagittarius A* at the center of our Milky Way galaxy. Also see all black holes.
- Black hole
- Type
- IGR J17091-3624
- stellar
- V1033 Sco
- stellar
* Constellation shown for northen hemisphere skies. For the southern hemisphere, constellations appear rotated 180 degrees (upside-down and left-right reversed) from what is shown. Remember that seasons are reversed too - summer in northern latitudes is winter in southern latitudes.
** Circumpolar constellations are visible year-round in the hemisphere listed (and not at all in the opposite hemisphere).