SCORPIUS

Overview

Scorpius is the signature constellation of the summer southern sky. Its distinctive S-shaped curve features the red supergiant Antares at its heart. The name Antares means "rival of Mars," reflecting its striking resemblance to the Red Planet in both color and brightness.

Located within the Milky Way, the surrounding area is rich with open and globular clusters. At the tip of the tail, Shaula shines with a blue-white light that contrasts beautifully with the red glow of Antares.

Among all constellations, Scorpius is perhaps the one that most faithfully resembles its namesake. The pincers, body, and curving tail are all clearly traced by its stars — a true scorpion silhouette in the sky.

How to Find It

On summer evenings (June through August), look for a bright red star low in the southern sky — that is Antares. From there, trace the S-shaped curve of stars down to the stinger. It transits around 9 PM in early July.

From mid-northern latitudes, Scorpius stays low on the horizon, so find a location with a clear southern view. The tail in particular is often hidden behind buildings or terrain — coastal areas or elevated spots facing south offer the best views. Flanking Antares are σ and τ Scorpii, forming a horizontal trio that marks the scorpion's head.

Mythology and Culture

In Greek mythology, this is the scorpion that defeated the great hunter Orion. The earth goddess Gaia sent it to punish Orion for boasting he could slay every beast on Earth. Scorpius and Orion were placed on opposite sides of the sky — when one rises, the other sets.

In ancient Mesopotamia it was called "GIR.TAB" and already recognized as a scorpion. It appears in Sumerian records dating back roughly 5,000 years, making it one of the oldest documented constellations in human history.

Polynesian navigators knew the tail as "Maui's Fishhook," linked to the legend of the demigod Maui pulling islands up from the ocean floor. In Hawaii it is still called "Manaiakalani." In parts of Japan, the red Antares was nicknamed "Sakeyoi-boshi" — the tipsy star, for its ruddy glow.

Star Trivia

Antares (α Sco) — About 550 light-years away. A red supergiant with a diameter ~700 times that of the Sun, rivaling Betelgeuse in size. It is a semi-regular variable, fluctuating between magnitudes 0.6 and 1.6 over roughly 4.5 years. A companion star appears blue-green through a telescope, creating a striking color contrast.

Shaula (λ Sco) — Roughly 570 light-years distant. A blue-white star of magnitude 1.62 at the tip of the tail. It is actually a triple-star system, and together with nearby Lesath (υ Sco) forms the "stinger."

Dschubba (δ Sco) — About 490 light-years away. A binary of hot stars; since a sudden brightening in 2000 it has also been known as a variable. Located in the pincers at magnitude ~2.3.

M4 (NGC 6121) — A globular cluster just west of Antares, about 7,200 light-years from Earth. One of the nearest globular clusters, visible with binoculars.

In Gravity Weaver

Scorpius is the fourth constellation, consisting of 4 stages. Starting from Antares, stages progress through Graffias, Larawag, and Shaula.

The signature gimmick is the Gravity Stream — a horizontal cyan current sweeping across the field, accelerating Solar Shards (and meteors) in the direction of its arrows.

Riding the stream is a powerful shortcut to the goal; riding it the wrong way will overshoot the target. Read the current's direction and speed: with a tailwind, hold back on Slingshots; against a headwind, use a Gravity Well to peel your Shard off the stream at a right angle.