339. Scorpio, Sagittarius, and Ophiuchus.—During the summer months a brilliant constellation is visible, called Scorpio, or the Scorpion. The configuration of the chief stars of this constellation is shown in Fig. 394. They bear some resemblance to a boy's kite. The brightest star is of the first magnitude, and called Antares (from anti, instead of, and Ares, the Greek name of Mars), because it rivals Mars in redness. The stars in the tail of the Scorpion are visible in our latitude only under very favorable circumstances. This constellation is shown in Fig. 395, together with Sagittarius and Ophiuchus. Sagittarius, or the Archer, is to the east of Scorpio. It contains no bright stars, but is easily recognized from the fact that five of its principal stars form the outline of an inverted dipper, which, from the fact of its being partly in the Milky-Way, is often called the Milk Dipper.
Fig. 395.
Ophiuchus, or the Serpent-Bearer, is a large constellation, filling all the space between the head of Hercules and Scorpio. It is difficult to trace, since it contains no very brilliant stars. This constellation and Libra, or the Balances, which is the zodiacal constellation to the west of Scorpio, are shown in Fig. 396.
Fig. 396.
Fig. 397.
340. Capricornus, Aquarius, and the Southern Fish.—The two zodiacal constellations to the east of Sagittarius are Capricornus and Aquarius. Capricornus contains three pairs of small stars, which mark the head, the tail, and the knees of the animal.
Aquarius is marked by no conspicuous stars. An irregular line of minute stars marks the course of the stream of water which flows from the Water-Bearer's Urn into the mouth of the Southern Fish. This mouth is marked by the first-magnitude star Fomalhaut. These constellations are shown in Fig. 397.