By IAU and Sky & Telescope magazine (Roger Sinnott & Rick Fienberg) [CC-BY-3.0], via Wikimedia Commons
Libra
"The Scales"
Abbreviation: Lib
Genitive: Librae
Constellation family: Zodiac
Nearest constellations: Centaurus, Hydra, Lupus,
Ophiuchus, Scorpius, Serpens, and Virgo
Right ascension: 15.21h
Declination: -15.59°
Visible between latitudes: +65° and -90°
Square degrees: 538
Luminary: Zubeneschamali (Beta Librae)
Named stars: Zubeneschamali, Zubenelgenubi
Notable deep sky objects: NGC 5885
About
By Alexander Jamieson (United States Naval Observatory Library) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
Libra is one of the twelve constellations of the zodiac. It is located in the Southern Hemisphere and is best seen during June.
Because it used to include the location of the Sun during the autumnal equinox when the length of day and night are exactly equal, Libra is frequently associated with justice and equality. It is the only zodiac symbol that is not a living creature.
This constellation contains the location of planetary system Gliese 581, which consists of three known planets (Gliese 581 b, 581 c, and 581 e) orbiting a red dwarf star.
Mythology
In Greek mythology, the stars in Libra represent the claws of Scorpius.
Gallery of objects in Libra
NGC 5793 (spiral galaxy):
By Judy Schmidt [CC-BY-2.0], via Wikimedia Commons
MCG-01-39-003 and NGC 5917 (interacting galaxies):
Arp 261 (interacting galaxies):
