The Scales
| Abbreviation: | Lib |
| Genitive: | Librae |
| Origin: | [antiquity] |
| Fully Visible: | 90°S – 60°N |
Libra is a member of the zodiac. This is one of the most ancient of constellations, harking back to Babylonia where it was known both as the scales and as the claws of the scorpion. It is the only zodiac sign which does not represent a living creature.
Notable Features
| Visible Named Stars | ||
|---|---|---|
| α² Lib | Zubenelgenubi | This star sometimes appears as Kiffa Australis (from the Arabic al‑kiffa al‑janūbī and Latin australis meaning 'the southern tray of the scale') in older star atlases and catalogues. |
| β Lib | Zubeneschamali | This star sometimes appears as Kiffa Borealis (from the Arabic al‑kiffa al‑janūbī and Latin borealis meaning 'the northern tray of the scale') in older star atlases and catalogues. |
| γ Lib | Zubenelhakrabi | The name of this star refers to the claws of a scorpion, from an earlier time when this constellation was considered part of Scorpius. |
| σ Lib | Brachium | This star sometimes appears as Zubanalkravi (spelled in miscellaneous ways) in older star atlases and catalogues. Its the brightest star in the obsolete constellation Bufo. |
Copyright © 1995–2023 by L.M. Stockman and David Harper