One of the zodiacal constellations is Virgo. Latin for "maiden," its former astrological designation was the Virgo symbol. (♍︎). It is the largest constellation in the zodiac and the second-largest constellation in the night sky, located between Leo to the west and Libra to the east. This constellation and Pisces are where the ecliptic crosses the celestial equator. Underlying these two technical definitions is the fact that, during this constellation's equinox in September, the sun rises directly overhead of the equator. Spica, Virgo's brightest star, makes the constellation simple to identify.
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In the northern hemisphere, Virgo is a prominent spring constellation that is visible all night long in March and April. The Sun spends the longest amount of time (44 days) passing over the greatest zodiac constellation. This will happen from September 16 to October 30 starting in 1990 and lasting through the year 2062. It can be visible from latitudes between +80° and -80° in the southern hemisphere's third quadrant (SQ3).
Finding Virgo is simple thanks to the bright star Spica, which can be discovered by following the Big Dipper/ Plough to Arcturus in Boötes and continuing from there in the same curve ("follow the arc to Arcturus and speed on to Spica").
The First Point of Libra, often known as the fall equinox point, is located within the limits of Virgo, extremely near to Virginis, because of the effects of precession. The celestial equator crosses the ecliptic at this location, one of two, in the sky (the other being the First Point of Aries, now in the constellation of Pisces). The Sun was in Libra on the autumnal equinox from the 18th century until the 4th century BC, then it moved into Virgo after that. Around the year 2440, this point will enter the nearby constellation of Leo.
Finding Virgo is simple thanks to the bright star Spica, which can be discovered by following the Big Dipper/ Plough to Arcturus in Boötes and continuing from there in the same curve ("follow the arc to Arcturus and speed on to Spica").
The First Point of Libra, often known as the fall equinox point, is located within the limits of Virgo, extremely near to Virginis, because of the effects of precession. The celestial equator crosses the ecliptic at this location, one of two, in the sky (the other being the First Point of Aries, now in the constellation of Pisces). The Sun was in Libra on the autumnal equinox from the 18th century until the 4th century BC, then it moved into Virgo after that. Around the year 2440, this point will enter the nearby constellation of Leo.
Mythology and History
A portion of this constellation was referred to as "The Furrow" in the Babylonian MUL.APIN (about the 10th century BC), symbolises the goddess Shala and her ear of grain. One star in this constellation, Spica, which is Latin for "ear of grain," one of the main products of the Mesopotamian furrow, upholds this practice. The constellation was consequently linked to fertility. (William 1976) Two Babylonian constellations, the "Furrow" in the eastern sector of Virgo and the "Frond of Erua" in the western sector, corresponding to the Virgo constellation in Hipparchus. A palm frond was held by the goddess represented as The Frond of Erua; this motif can occasionally be seen in many later representations of Virgo. The Babylonian constellation was linked by ancient Greek astronomy to Demeter, the goddess of wheat and agriculture. It was connected to the Roman goddess Ceres. The virgin goddess Iustitia or Astraea, who is carrying the scales of justice in her hand, was also sometimes associated with the constellation (that now are separated as the constellation Libra). Erigone, the daughter of Icarius of Athens, is identified as Virgo in a different Greek tale from later, classical periods. In some versions of this myth, Dionysus is said to have assigned the father and daughter the astrological signs of Boötes and Virgo, respectively. Icarius, who had been favoured by Dionysus, was killed by his shepherds while they were intoxicated, and Erigone hanged herself in sorrow. Persephone, the spring goddess and the daughter of Zeus and Demeter, who was married to Hades and spent the summer in the Underworld, is another figure connected to the constellation Virgo. |
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Parthenos (pronounced "o") is described as the daughter of Apollo and Chrysothemis in the Poeticon Astronomicon by Hyginus (1st century BC), who died as a girl and was buried among the stars as the constellation. A different narrative by Diodorus Siculus states that Parthenos was the sister of Rhoeo and Molpadia and the child of Staphylus and Chrysothemis (Hemithea). Following a failed suicide attempt, Apollo brought Hemithea and her to Chersonesus, where she was worshipped as a local goddess. Strabo also refers to the venerated deity Parthenos at Chersonesus.
Virgo and the Blessed Virgin Mary were sometimes connected in the Middle Ages. (William 1976)
Greek mythology also links the constellation to Dike, the goddess of justice and Zeus's daughter, who is seen carrying the scales of justice.
Virgo and the Blessed Virgin Mary were sometimes connected in the Middle Ages. (William 1976)
Greek mythology also links the constellation to Dike, the goddess of justice and Zeus's daughter, who is seen carrying the scales of justice.
Deep-sky Objects
Main stars -15
Bayer stars - 96
Stars with planets - 29
Stars brighter than magnitude 3.00 - 3
Stars within 32 Ly - 10
Messier objects - 11
Meteor showers
Bordering
constellations
- Virgo Cluster – Cluster of galaxies
- Messier 49 (M49) – Elliptical Galaxy
- Messier 58 (M58) – Barred Spiral Galaxy
- Messier 59 (M59) – Elliptical Galaxy
- Messier 60 (M60) – Elliptical Galaxy
- Messier 61 (M61) – Barred Spiral Galaxy
- Messier 84 (M84) – Elliptical Galaxy
- Messier 86 (M86) – Elliptical Galaxy
- Messier 87 (M87) – Elliptical Galaxy
- Messier 89 (M89) – Elliptical Galaxy
- Messier 90 (M90) – Spiral Galaxy
- Messier 104 (M104) – Sombrero Galaxy – Peculiar Galaxy (Borders Virgo and Corvus)
- NGC 4639 – Barred Spiral Galaxy
- NGC 4438 – Eyes Galaxies - Pair of Galaxies – Peculiar Galaxy
Main stars -15
Bayer stars - 96
Stars with planets - 29
Stars brighter than magnitude 3.00 - 3
Stars within 32 Ly - 10
Messier objects - 11
Meteor showers
- Virginids
- Mu Virginids
Bordering
constellations
- Boötes
- Coma Berenices
- Leo
- Crater
- Corvus
- Hydra
- Libra
- Serpens Caput