Thursday, June 13, 2024

The Claw Stars of Libra (evening)

Medium-bright Zubenelgenubi 'the Southern Claw' in Libra, the Scales, is a nice double star easily split in binoculars or a small telescope. Zubeneschamali 'the Northern Claw' shines 9 degrees to its upper left (or celestial ENE). The name of fainter Zubenelhakrabi to their east means 'Claws of the Scorpion'. Although the Babylonians had envisioned Zubenelhakrabi, plus the bright stars Zubeneschamali, Zubenelgenubi, and reddish Brachium, as balance scales, the Greek and Arab astronomers used them to form the outstretched claws of a great scorpion. The ancient Romans created the modern constellation of Libra by clipping off the claws of Scorpius, but the
original stars' names have been retained. The Arabic word zuben means 'claw'.

(Data courtesy of Starry Night)
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