Libra Constellation – Map of My Sky

The Libra Constellation is one of the constellations of the Zodiac, known and cataloged for a long time. It is close to very significant stars and constellations, which helps a lot with its location!

Among all 88 cataloged constellations, it ranks 29th in area of occupation in our sky.

See how to locate the Libra constellation, as well as astronomical curiosities and also its history in Greek Mythology.

Where is the Libra Constellation?

The cluster is located near the Constellation of Scorpio, Serpentarius, Hydra and Virgo Constellation.

By the way, until the 1st century BC, it was part of Scorpio, and only later gained its independence.

Libra is located in the equatorial zone and can be seen from practically everywhere on Earth, depending on the time of year. In the southern hemisphere, it can be observed between August and December.

To find it, simply locate Antares (Scorpio’s star, the 16th brightest star in the night sky) and follow the extension, arriving at the two brightest stars in the group.

If you find it too complicated to find the Libra constellation, it is also worth using astronomy apps, searching for its neighbors and adapting to your location on the globe.

Stars of the Libra Constellation

The stars in the group do not have such a significant apparent magnitude, with two being the brightest.

The genitive that describes its stars is Libraewith the most expressive star being Alpha Librae, also known as Zubenelgenubi – “Southern Claw” in Arabic.

This star is double, one of the pair is also binary. It is about 70 light years from us, has a magnitude of 2.7 and can be observed with binoculars.

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Secondly, the best-known star: Beta Librae or Zubeneschamali (Northern Claw) is a blue-white dwarf, which has magnitude 2.6. An interesting fact about it is that its intense hydrogen fusion causes our eyes to see it through an optical illusion, making it “greenish”.

Likewise, another notable object is NGC 5897, which has a concentration of stars of great magnitude. Its observation takes place through good quality telescopes.

History of the Libra Constellation

Libra does not have specific myths associated with it, but the understanding in mythology is to link it to the myth of the Virgo Constellation, where the young Astreia, goddess of justice and purity, returns to the heavens after giving up on bringing peace and understanding among men.

Meanwhile, in one of his hands he carries a scale – where he weighs and evaluates what is fair between people, things and situations.

When she returns to the heavens and becomes one of the Zodiac Constellations, her scales would also be represented in the sky.

As we said, in ancient times it was seen as the continuation of the Scorpio cluster, with two of its main stars bearing names that refer to parts of the animal.

In the same way, they saw its shape as a boat or a scale, and it was only after a long time that the association with Astreia was made.

Libra sign

The Libra Constellation is part of the Zodiac Constellations, and therefore, there is a period in which the Sun falls on the Ecliptic.

According to astrology scholars, the influence of the star would give individuals born in the same period of the year common characteristics.

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Therefore, anyone born in the period between September 23rd and October 22nd (varying slightly according to the solar entry and exit in the year in question) would be native to the Sign of Libra.

In this way, characteristics such as diplomacy, balance and sociability would be evident in the sign’s personality.

Creative gift and the stars

After understanding some facts about the Libra Constellation, we want to invite you to discover our star map. In short, a personalized picture that shows what the sky was like on a special day, time and place.

It has the option of adding several elements, such as the Milky Way, the Moon and the name of the constellations. In fact, the details are beautiful and you can even spot some of the Zodiac Constellations in it:

Detail on the constellations and Milky Way on the My Sky Map

So, create your star map or check out the other products we made based on astronomical data that beautifully celebrate a special date!