Virgo: The Virgin
Pronunciation: VER-goVirgo Constellation Profile | |
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Abbreviation: Vir | Genitive: Virginis |
Origin: Ancient | Location: Celestial Equator |
Best View (North): Spring | Best View (South): |
Bordering Constellations: Bootes, Coma Berenices, Leo, Crater, Corvus, Hydra, Libra, Serpens Caput |
The Myth Behind the Constellation Virgo
Virgo, “The Virgin”, is one of three constellations that represents a woman (Andromeda and Cassiopeia are the other). And to the Greeks this woman was Demeter, the goddess of the harvest, holding wheat in her hand. The Romans saw her as Astraea, the goddess of justice, holding the scales Libra.Virgo Constellation Points of Interest
Interesting Objects in the Constellation Virgo | ||||
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Name | Messier | NGC | Type | Visibility |
M49 | NGC 4472 | Elliptical Galaxy | Small Scope | |
M58 | NGC 4579 | Barred-Spiral Galaxy | Small Scope | |
M59 | NGC 4621 | Elliptical Galaxy | Small Scope | |
M60 | NGC 4649 | Elliptical Galaxy | Small Scope | |
M61 | NGC 4303 | Spiral Galaxy | Small Scope | |
M84 | NGC 4374 | Lenticular Galaxy | Small Scope | |
M86 | NGC 4406 | Lenticular Galaxy | Small Scope | |
Virgo A | M87 | NGC 4486 | Elliptical Galaxy | Small Scope |
M89 | NGC 4552 | Elliptical Galaxy | Small Scope | |
M90 | NGC 4569 | Spiral Galaxy | Small Scope | |
Sombrero Galaxy | M104 | NGC 4594 | Spiral Galaxy | Binoculars |
Bright Stars in Virgo
These are the stars in Virgo with a minimum magnitude of 3.0.Name | Bayer Name | Magnitude | Color | Luminosity | Distance |
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Spica | Alpha Virginis | 0.96 | Blue | 14,779 suns | 263 ly |
Porrima | Gamma Virginis | 2.74 | White | 4 suns | 39 ly |
Vindemiatrix | Epsilon Virginis | 2.84 | White | 87 suns | 102 ly |