Virgo (constellation)

See Virgo (astrology) for the astrological sign, VIRGO (physics) for the French-Italian project in physics and John Virgo for the snooker player

Virgo

Constellation
List of stars in Virgo
Abbreviation	Vir
Genitive	Virginis
Right ascension	13
Declination	0
Area	1294 sq. deg. (2nd)
Meteor showers	Virginids Mu Virginids
Bordering constellations	Boötes Coma Berenices Leo Crater Corvus Hydra Libra Serpens Caput
Visible at latitudes between +80° and −80°. Best visible at 21:00 (9 p.m.) during the month of May.

Virgo (Latin for virgin, symbol , Unicode ♍) is a constellation of the zodiac. Lying between Leo to the west and the Libra to the east, it is one of the largest constellations in the sky. It can be easily found through its bright α star, Spica.

Notable features

The most prominent star in Virgo is Spica (α Vir), which was sometimes considered to represent an ear of wheat in Virgo's hand. Spica makes it easy to locate Virgo, as it can be found by following the curve of the Big Dipper to Arcturus in Boötes and continuing from there in the same curve ("follow the arc to Arcturus and speed on to Spica").

Other bright stars in Virgo include β Vir (Zavijava), γ Vir (Porrima), δ Vir (Auva) and ε Vir (Vindemiatrix). Other fainter stars that were also given names are ζ Vir (Heze), η Vir (Zaniah), ι Vir (Syrma) and μ Vir (Rijl al Awwa).

The star 70 Virginis is an extrasolar planetary system with one confirmed planet 6.6 times the mass of Jupiter.

Due to the effects of precession, the First Point of Libra, (also known as the autumn equinox point) lies within the boundaries of Virgo very close to β Vir. This is one of the two points in the sky where the celestial equator crosses the ecliptic (the other being the First Point of Aries, now in the constellation of Pisces.) This point will pass into the neighbouring constellation of Leo around the year 2440.

Notable deep sky objects

Because of the presence of a galaxy cluster (consequently called the Virgo cluster) within its borders 5° to 10° west of ε Vir (Vindemiatrix), this constellation is especially rich in galaxies.

Some examples are M49 (elliptical), M58 (spiral), M59 (elliptical), M60 (elliptical), M61 (spiral), M84 (elliptical), M86 (elliptical), M87 (elliptical and a famous radiosource), M89 (elliptical) and M90 (spiral). A noted galaxy that is not part of the cluster is M104, a spiral galaxy also called the Sombrero Galaxy. It is located about 10° due west of Spica.

Mythology

Who exactly Virgo was considered to represent is uncertain; in history, it has been associated with nearly every prominent goddess, including Ishtar, Isis, Cybele, Mary, Mother of Jesus, and Athena. Virgo may also feature, along with Ursa Major, and Ursa Minor, as part of the source of the myth of Callisto, either as Callisto herself, or as Hera. Persephone (who in some mythologies, notably the Eleusinian Mysteries, was considered to be a form of Demeter) is often mentioned as well, Virgo being visible mainly in the spring months when she was believed to have risen from the underworld.

According to one interpretation, the constellation depicts Astraea, the virgin daughter of the god Zeus and the goddess Themis. Astraea was known as the goddess of justice, and was identified as this constellation due to the presence of the scales of justice Libra nearby, and supposedly ruled the world at one point with her wise ways until mankind became so callous she returned to skies disgusted.

Astrology

In western astrology the sun is in the sign of Virgo from August 23 to September 22.

Graphic visualization

Diagram of an alternate way to connect the stars of the constellation Virgo. The virgin is shown lying supine.

The stars of the constellation Virgo can be connected in an alternative way, which graphically shows the virgin lying down in a supine position.

The stars gamma Virginis, eta Virginis, beta Virginis, nu Virginis, and omicron Virginis form the virgin's head: all of these stars are of fourth magnitude except gamma Virginis which is of third magnitude.

The stars gamma Virginis, delta Virginis, zeta Virginis, alpha Virginis, and theta Virginis form the virgin's blouse: alpha Virginis, also known as Spica, is of the first magnitude, whereas zeta Virginis is of the third magnitude.

The stars alpha Virginis, zeta Virginis, tau Virginis, iota Virginis, and kappa Virginis form the virgin's skirt: the last three stars being of the fourth magnitude.

The stars 109 Virginis and mu Virginis represent the Virgin's feet, and the star epsilon Virginis represents the virgin's hand.

Reference

• H. A. Rey, The Stars — A New Way To See Them. Enlarged World-Wide Edition. Houghton Mifflin, Boston, 1997. ISBN 0-395-24830-2.

Notable and named stars

BD	F	Names and other designations	Mag.	Ly away	Comments
α	67	Spica, Alpha Virginis, Spica Virginis, Azimech, Alarph	0.98	262	< spīca virginis Virgo's ear of wheat < ? as-simak al-a'zal The undefended ? < (?) The grape gatherer
β		Beta Virginis, Zavijava, Zavijah, Zavyava, Zawijah, Alaraph, Minelauva	3.61	35.6	< زاوية العوى zāwiyat al-cawwa’ Corner of the barking (dog) [perhaps referring to a kennel?] Minelauva shared with δ Virginis
γ	29	Gamma Virginis, Porrima, Arich	2.74	38.6	double star; component magnitudes: 3.6, 3.68
ε	47	Epsilon Virginis, Vindemiatrix, Vindemiator, Almuredin, Alaraph, Provindemiator, Protrigetrix, Protrygetor	2.85	102	< vindēmiātrix, vindēmitor The grape-harvestress
ζ	79	Zeta Virginis, Heze	3.38	73.2
δ	43	Delta Virginis, Auva, Al Awwa, Minelauva	3.39	202	< عوى cawwa’ barking + min = ?
	109	109 Virginis	3.73	129
μ	107	Mu Virginis, Rijl al Awwa	3.87	60.9	< رجل العوى rijl al-cawwa’ The foot of the barking (dog)
η	15	Eta Virginis, Zaniah	3.89	250	< زاوية zāwiyah corner
ν	3	Nu Virginis	4.04	313
ι	99	Iota Virginis, Syrma	4.07	69.8	< سرما (تطريز) sirmā train (of a garment)
ο	9	Omicron Virginis	4.12	171
κ	98	Kappa Virginis	4.18	224
τ	93	Tau Virginis	4.23	218
θ	51	Theta Virginis	4.38	415
	110	110 Virginis	4.39	183
λ	100	Lambda Virginis, Khambalia	4.52	187	< (?) The curved claw?
π	8	Pi Virginis	4.65	356
χ	26	Chi Virginis	4.66	319
l	74	74 Virginis	4.68
	61	61 Virginis	4.74	27.8	nearby
	69	69 Virginis	4.76
ψ	40	Psi Virginis	4.77	417
σ	60	Sigma Virginis	4.78	541
φ	105	Phi Virginis	4.81	135
ξ	2	Xi Virginis	4.84	120
ρ	30	Rho Virginis	4.88	120	Delta Scuti type variable star
o	78	78 Virginis	4.92
	89	89 Virginis	4.96
c	16	16 Virginis	4.97
	70	70 Virginis	4.97	59.1	has a planet
m	82	82 Virginis	5.03
	53	53 Virginis	5.04
υ	102	Upsilon Virginis	5.14	274
	49	49 Virginis	5.15
p	90	90 Virginis	5.16
e	59	59 Virginis	5.19
h	76	76 Virginis	5.21
	57	57 Virginis	5.21
d²	32	32 Virginis	5.22
ω	1	Omega Virginis	5.24	480
i	68	68 Virginis	5.27
A¹	4	4 Virginis	5.31
	55	55 Virginis	5.31
	84	84 Virginis	5.35
b	7	7 Virginis	5.36
	63	63 Virginis	5.36
	87	87 Virginis	5.41
	106	106 Virginis	5.42
	95	95 Virginis	5.46
q	21	21 Virginis	5.48
	86	86 Virginis	5.50
	75	75 Virginis	5.52
	83	83 Virginis	5.55
d¹	31	31 Virginis	5.57
g		g Virginis	5.57
A²	6	6 Virginis	5.58
	33	33 Virginis	5.65
	71	71 Virginis	5.65
	108	108 Virginis	5.68
	80	80 Virginis	5.70
	11	11 Virginis	5.72
	66	66 Virginis	5.76
k	44	44 Virginis	5.79
	101	101 Virginis	5.84
	12	12 Virginis	5.85
f	25	25 Virginis	5.88
	65	65 Virginis	5.88
	64	64 Virginis	5.89
	13	13 Virginis	5.90
	92	92 Virginis	5.90
y		y Virginis	5.92
	10	10 Virginis	5.95
	50	50 Virginis	5.95
	46	46 Virginis	5.99
	73	73 Virginis	6.01
	37	37 Virginis	6.02
	72	72 Virginis	6.10
	34	34 Virginis	6.11
	38	38 Virginis	6.11
	85	85 Virginis	6.18
	104	104 Virginis	6.18
	27	27 Virginis	6.22
	41	41 Virginis	6.25
	54	54 Virginis	6.26
	20	20 Virginis	6.29
	35	35 Virginis	6.42
	96	96 Virginis	6.45
	17	17 Virginis	6.46
	94	94 Virginis	6.54
	48	48 Virginis	6.62
	62	62 Virginis	6.73
	28	28 Virginis	6.81
	56	56 Virginis	6.95
	77	77 Virginis	7.12
		HD 114783	7.57		has a planet
		HD 130322	8.05		has a planet
		EQ Virginis	9.31		flare star nearby
		DT Virginis	9.75		variable star nearby
		Ross 128, FI Virginis	11.12		nearby flare star
		Wolf 424	12.41		nearby double star; component magnitudes: 13.04 13.30 flare star
		FL Virginis	13.30		flare star nearby
		PSR 1257+12			pulsar has three planets

Source: The Bright Star Catalogue, 5th Revised Ed., The Hipparcos Catalogue, ESA SP-1200

External links

• The Deep Photographic Guide to the Constellations: Virgo

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