One
of the most famous of all stars is the red supergiant known since
antiquity as Antares. The name means "The Rival of Mars" (Anti-Ares),
and it is also known as Alpha Scorpii or Cor Scorpii, "The Heart of The
Scorpion," it being the brightest (First Magnitude) and central star of
the constellation Scorpius (better known as Scorpio).
Antares is 12 times the mass of our Sun but 680 times the radius, meaning that if it was centered in the position of the Sun its surface would reach nearly to the Asteroid Belt. This also means that it's mass per volume is only one one-millionth that of the Sun. It burns at a relatively cool 5900 degrees Fahrenheit, but has a luminosity of a seemingly-impossible 97,700 times of the Sun's. So despite its remoteness from the Earth (550 light years) it is one of the brightest stars in the sky. Antares is young (only 12 million years old) but is reaching the end of its stellar life. Like Betelgeuse in Orion, Antares is expected to go supernova sometime relatively soon (within the next 100,000 years). When it does, it will be the brightest object in our sky, visible even during daylight hours. If it were to explode today we would not know about it until the year 2568 because of the limitations of the speed of light.
The surface of Antares is a roiling plasmatic zone. Huge amounts of material are being ejected by the star due to internal convection. Although Antares has not yet developed a permanent bulge like Betelgeuse, temporary bulges, like vast bubbles in a stewpot, appear and disappear from time to time. Some can be seen in the photo, which is the most detailed unaltered image ever made of a star beyond the Sun.
Betelgeuse is slightly older and larger and likely to explode first, but when Antares goes it will take a little-known companion, Antares B, with it. Antares B is a 5th Magnitude star (invisible to the naked eye) but telescopic observers have described it, like Zubenelgenubi, as green. Antares B is more than seven times the mass and five times the radius of our Sun. It burns at 33,000 degrees, making it an impressive star in its own right, but a mere glowworm compared to Antares A.
Man's fascination with Antares goes back before the dawn of history. The fierce red star lies close to the ecliptic and is sometimes occulted by the Moon, the Sun, and very, very rarely other planets, but Mars can often be seen nearby, making them visual twins (and apparent rivals).
Antares was the first variable star ever catalogued, and its degree of magnitude can vary from 0 to 2, making it a flashing red beacon in the skies.
The Maori people call Antares Rehua, meaning "King" (or "Red King") and they consider Antares the king of stars. In ancient Persia, Antares was one of the Four Royal Stars, along with Aldebaran, Regulus, and Fomalhaut. They were considered the Guardians of the Four Quarters, with Antares representing Autumn. In Mesopotamia it was also known as "The King" (or "The Queen"), and also as "The Vermilion Star", "The Heart of The Scorpion," and as a manifestation of the goddess Isis in Egypt, or, alternatively, Serket the Scorpion Queen.
In ancient China Antares was called "The Mansion Heart." In Norse mythology, it was called "The Whelp of the Hellhound" and was associated with volvas (witches or wise women). On the whole, Antares (and Scorpio in general) is related mythologically to females and to sex, lust, and passion.
Antares is one of the fifteen Behenian Stars and astrologically it grants good health, wisdom, intelligence, and a strong memory. Antares also banishes demons.
Antares is one of the stars mentioned most frequently in "Star Trek" and other science fiction. The freighter carrying "Charlie X" was the "Antares," and Lt. Uhura sang a ballad titled "Beyond Antares" in early episodes. Many other artists in other media make mention of Antares. The 42nd entry into the Nautical Almanac is a star even in Hollywood.
Antares is 12 times the mass of our Sun but 680 times the radius, meaning that if it was centered in the position of the Sun its surface would reach nearly to the Asteroid Belt. This also means that it's mass per volume is only one one-millionth that of the Sun. It burns at a relatively cool 5900 degrees Fahrenheit, but has a luminosity of a seemingly-impossible 97,700 times of the Sun's. So despite its remoteness from the Earth (550 light years) it is one of the brightest stars in the sky. Antares is young (only 12 million years old) but is reaching the end of its stellar life. Like Betelgeuse in Orion, Antares is expected to go supernova sometime relatively soon (within the next 100,000 years). When it does, it will be the brightest object in our sky, visible even during daylight hours. If it were to explode today we would not know about it until the year 2568 because of the limitations of the speed of light.
The surface of Antares is a roiling plasmatic zone. Huge amounts of material are being ejected by the star due to internal convection. Although Antares has not yet developed a permanent bulge like Betelgeuse, temporary bulges, like vast bubbles in a stewpot, appear and disappear from time to time. Some can be seen in the photo, which is the most detailed unaltered image ever made of a star beyond the Sun.
Betelgeuse is slightly older and larger and likely to explode first, but when Antares goes it will take a little-known companion, Antares B, with it. Antares B is a 5th Magnitude star (invisible to the naked eye) but telescopic observers have described it, like Zubenelgenubi, as green. Antares B is more than seven times the mass and five times the radius of our Sun. It burns at 33,000 degrees, making it an impressive star in its own right, but a mere glowworm compared to Antares A.
Man's fascination with Antares goes back before the dawn of history. The fierce red star lies close to the ecliptic and is sometimes occulted by the Moon, the Sun, and very, very rarely other planets, but Mars can often be seen nearby, making them visual twins (and apparent rivals).
Antares was the first variable star ever catalogued, and its degree of magnitude can vary from 0 to 2, making it a flashing red beacon in the skies.
The Maori people call Antares Rehua, meaning "King" (or "Red King") and they consider Antares the king of stars. In ancient Persia, Antares was one of the Four Royal Stars, along with Aldebaran, Regulus, and Fomalhaut. They were considered the Guardians of the Four Quarters, with Antares representing Autumn. In Mesopotamia it was also known as "The King" (or "The Queen"), and also as "The Vermilion Star", "The Heart of The Scorpion," and as a manifestation of the goddess Isis in Egypt, or, alternatively, Serket the Scorpion Queen.
In ancient China Antares was called "The Mansion Heart." In Norse mythology, it was called "The Whelp of the Hellhound" and was associated with volvas (witches or wise women). On the whole, Antares (and Scorpio in general) is related mythologically to females and to sex, lust, and passion.
Antares is one of the fifteen Behenian Stars and astrologically it grants good health, wisdom, intelligence, and a strong memory. Antares also banishes demons.
Antares is one of the stars mentioned most frequently in "Star Trek" and other science fiction. The freighter carrying "Charlie X" was the "Antares," and Lt. Uhura sang a ballad titled "Beyond Antares" in early episodes. Many other artists in other media make mention of Antares. The 42nd entry into the Nautical Almanac is a star even in Hollywood.
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