What does the constellation Libra look like. Zodiac constellation Libra. How to find the constellation Libra

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

Tale of the constellation Libra

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

History of the constellation Libra. How did the constellation Libra appear?

Long ago, back in the 1st century BC, a wise and just ruler lived in the world, his name was Augustus. He ruled the strongest state in history - the Roman Empire. The subjects loved their emperor very much, were grateful for his care and love for the Roman people. The great poet of that time, whose name is Virgil, proposed in honor of Emperor Augustus to allocate part of one of the constellations, thereby creating his own. Astronomers took into account his idea and "pinched 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 the skis of Scorpio. After part of the constellation Scorpio dried up and became a new constellation (Libra), it is said that the claws of Scorpio were empty, as if he unclenched them and released his prey.

The legend of the constellation Libra in Ancient Greece
There is another legend of the appearance of the constellation Libra in the sky. It appeared in ancient Greece. The Greeks believed that Zeus, the main among the gods of the Greek pantheon, establishes order and law on earth. Only Zeus needed help, so he gave Themis magical scales with which she could weigh the good and bad deeds of people. The result determined the further fate of each individual person. -For 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 the image of her scales in the sky.

The legend of the constellations Libra in ancient Egypt

Agriculture was the main occupation of the ancient Egyptians. All harvesting work began in the autumn. At this time, the hardworking Egyptians were engaged in harvesting, grinding grain. When the harvesting work was done, all the grain had to be weighed. He was always weighed precisely 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 23rd. Exactly on this day, the Sun enters the constellation Libra.

How to find the constellation Libra in the sky?

The constellation Libra lies 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, by which it would be easy to find it. But you can try to find it. To do this, astronomers are advised to start observing 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 a 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 the help of a telescope.

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Libra lies between Scorpio and Virgo, which was mentioned long before our era. The only zodiac constellation that represents an inanimate object. The view of the constellation changed over time, and therefore its appearance was formed, taking its final form, later than the rest of the zodiac constellations.

At first, Libra was represented as an altar, then it was depicted as a lamp clamped in the giant claws of Scorpio, since Scorpio is located directly east of Libra. Later, the pincers "released their prey", and a separate constellation appeared, which changed its image in the minds of ancient people and became Libra.

However, the stars alpha and beta Libra are still called the Southern and Northern Claws. These are, respectively, Zuben El Genubi (or Kmffa Australis) - a binary star with magnitude 5.2, 2.8 components and Zubenesh, Zuben Eshamali, Zuben El Hamali (or Kiffa Borealis) with magnitude 2.6.

Quite interesting is the star Delta Libra. This is a regular variable star, changing its brightness from 4.8 to 5.9 magnitude with a period of 2.3 days. The reason for the change in brightness is its second component, which outshines the star, changing its brilliance. Such systems are called eclipsing variable stars. It can be observed with ordinary binoculars or a small telescope.

The origin of the name of the constellation is associated with various myths. According to one of them, grateful subjects decided to perpetuate the name of the ancient Roman emperor Augustus. Between Virgo and Scorpio, they placed a new constellation - Libra, "withdrawing" the necessary space for this from Scorpio. The new constellation was dedicated to the emperor as a sign of his justice and nobility.

The origin of the name of this constellation is also associated with the myth of the goddess Themis - Titanide, the daughter of Uranus and Gaia, the second wife of Zeus. From the union with Zeus, she gave birth to the goddesses of fate: Clotho, Lachesis and Atropos. The Thunderer Zeus kept the law on Olympus, in which the goddess Themis helped him. Themis was depicted with a blindfold as a symbol of impartiality, with a sword, and sometimes with a cornucopia and scales in her hands - a symbol of accuracy and balance.

Looking for Libra in the sky

The constellation is visible at latitudes from -90° to +65°. The best conditions for observations are in April and May. The constellation is visible in the central and southern regions of Russia. The Sun enters the constellation on October 31st. Neighboring constellations: Serpent, Virgo, Hydra, Wolf, Scorpio, Ophiuchus, Serpent.

In autumn, Libra is not visible, as they move across the sky along with the Sun. In winter, you can see this constellation, which lies entirely in the southern hemisphere, only after 3 am, when its northern edge is shown above the horizon. Virgo is visible to the right and above Libra.

In spring, Libra takes the same position as in winter, but this happens already at midnight. To the right and above the constellation is Virgo, and above, almost directly above it, is Bootes. The two extreme stars of the "handle" of the Big Dipper bucket point directly to the constellation.

In late summer, Libra is visible for up to an hour after sunset. The visibility of the constellation is possible at latitudes of 57 ° north latitude and south. During this period, only the "Summer Triangle" remains of the brightest objects in the sky. Libra is found under the star Vega (alpha Lyra) near the horizon.

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LIBRA (lat. Libra), zodiac constellation (see ZODIAC CONSTELLATIONS) ... encyclopedic Dictionary

Zodiac constellation (Libra) between 217° and 239° right ascension and 1/2° north. and 22 1/2° south declination. Goald (Goald, Uranometria Argentina) counts 122 stars in Libra up to the 7th magnitude, of which two are of the second magnitude and one of the third. Among … Encyclopedic Dictionary F.A. Brockhaus and I.A. Efron

This term has other meanings, see Libra (meanings) ... Wikipedia

Aries Taurus Gemini Cancer Leo Virgo Libra Scorpio Sagittarius ... Wikipedia

Commemorative coins of the Bank of Russia dedicated to the zodiac sign Libra. Main article: Commemorative coins of Russia Series: "Signs of the Zodiac" Contents 1 Libra 1.1 2 rubles 2002 1.2 2 rubles 2005 ... Wikipedia

Ov; pl. 1. A device for determining weight and mass. Laboratory c. Aptekarskie v. Electronic c. V. Themis (book; about justice). 2. [capitalized] One of the twelve constellations of the Zodiac. 3. About a person born at the end of September October, when ... encyclopedic Dictionary

Libra (lat. Libra), zodiac constellation (see Zodiac). The brightest star is 2.6 visual magnitude. The most favorable visibility conditions are in April-May. It can be seen in the central and southern regions of the USSR. See the starry sky... Great Soviet Encyclopedia

- (libra), a not very noticeable constellation located on the ECLIPTIC between the constellations of Virgo and Scorpio. Once upon a time there was the Point of Libra in it, the intersection of the ecliptic and the equator, which then marked the moment of the autumnal equinox. Because of PRECESSION, this point... Scientific and technical encyclopedic dictionary

Pleiades, cohort, connection, celestial compass, square Dictionary of Russian synonyms. constellation, see Pleiades Dictionary of synonyms of the Russian language. Practical guide. M.: Russian language. Z. E. Alexandrova. 2011 ... Synonym dictionary

Scales- one of the oldest zodiac constellations, which is located between the constellations of Scorpio and Virgo, and which is the only inanimate object among the signs of the zodiac. The Libra constellation has a very rich history, as people's view of the constellation has changed over a long period of time. Therefore, its appearance, familiar to modern man, took its final form and formed later than all the other signs of the Zodiac.

Initially, the constellation of the current Libra was represented as an altar, later people began to depict it as a lamp, which is clamped in the giant claws of the constellation Scorpio, which is located east of the zodiac constellation Libra. Later, the giant claws of Scorpio "released their prey", thus forming a new separate and unique constellation, which the imagination of ancient people associated with Libra. Although, in this century, the alpha and beta stars of Libra are called, respectively, the South and North Claws, the zodiac constellation Scorpio.

The brightest stars of the modern constellation Libra are alpha and beta Libra, respectively Zuben El Genubi (another name for this star is Kiffa Australis) and Zubenesh. They have a brightness that does not exceed a value of the order of the second magnitude. Also, the constellation of Libra includes Zuben El Hamali (the second name is Kiffa Borealis) and Zuben Eshamali, which finally form the image in the firmament of Libra.
The constellation of Libra is the final link in the "parade" of the brightest zodiac constellations and is the beginning of a series of inconspicuous and inconspicuous constellations that are located in the southern hemisphere.

Another representative of the constellation Libra is the delta - the star of Libra. It is a regularly shaped variable star that changes its brightness depending on the angle from magnitude 4.8 to magnitude 5.9. The rotation period of the Libra delta star is 2.3 days, and the main reason for the change in its brightness is the second component of the delta star, which, under certain conditions, can change the brightness of the star, thereby eclipsing the latter. Such stars are often referred to as eclipsing variable stars.

The origin of the name is associated with several myths. According to one of them, the emperor of ancient Rome Augustus was a caring and fair ruler, who was glorified in his work by poets, as a sign of respect for his deeds before the people and Rome as a whole. The grateful subjects of the great emperor decided to immortalize their ruler Augustus the Just by placing a new constellation, Libra, between the zodiac constellations of Scorpio and Virgo, taking the necessary space from Scorpio for this noble cause. This is how Scorpio lost his Claws, and a new constellation appeared in the sky as a symbol of justice, order and nobility, dedicated to the ancient Roman emperor Augustus.

The origin of the name of the constellation Libra is also associated with mythological stories about the goddess of order and justice Themis - the goddess of the first generation (titanides), the daughter of the titan of the sky - Uranus and the goddess of the earth - Gaia. Thetis was the second wife of Zeus, and gave birth to the inexorable goddesses of fate from the Thunderer - Moir, who lived on the bright Olympus. The fate of the gods themselves is in the hands of these goddesses, and no one can escape the will of inexorable fate.

Moira Klotho - spins the thread of a person's life, thereby determining the duration of his life. The larger the thread, the longer, respectively, a person lives. Moira Lachesis draws lots, determining the fate that falls to man and which cannot be changed even by the gods. The last sister, Atropos, puts everything that is appointed in a person’s life into a long scroll of fate, which she keeps like the apple of her eye, and what is brought there is inevitable.
The Thunderer, the cloudmaker Zeus kept law and order on the bright Olympus, in which she was helped by the goddess Themis, who convened meetings of the gods and tirelessly monitored justice and order both in the world of the gods and the world of people. Themis is often depicted with a blindfold and a sword. The bandage is a symbol of impartiality. Sometimes the sword is replaced with scales - a symbol of accuracy and balance in one hand, and in the other hand the goddess has a cornucopia.

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. In the drawings, it is customary to depict scales in the hands of the goddess of justice, which is represented by the constellation Virgo.

It is better to look at Libra in April - May, when the brightest luminaries of the constellation are in an advantageous 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 single out Libra as a separate constellation, but believed that the cluster of stars in this place is part of Scorpio, its claws. Later, the Romans allocated the site to an independent constellation.

Legend associates the constellation with the scales of Dike, the goddess of justice. It says that it was the responsibility of Zeus to establish order in the universe. He was helped by other goddesses, one of which was Themis, who supports the rule of law. Their daughter Dike walked around with a bandage on her face that hid her eyes, and with scales in her hands went around the Earth. Her duties included telling Zeus about various unjust acts and non-compliance with laws, after which Zeus severely punished the violators. The scale accurately measured the degree of guilt and the measure 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. Translated from Arabic as "southern claw", and in Latin it is called "southern bowl". Zuben Elgenubi is a double: 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 "Northern claw". It is white-blue, and its temperature is 12 thousand K. When viewed from the Earth, it may seem green, this is its uniqueness. It is believed that the star has a companion, which sometimes closes it, making it paler than usual.

Zuben el Akrab - 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 that of the Sun.

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