Libra Constellation

From LoveToKnow Horoscopes

The Libra constellation, a pair of scales, is very representative of the zodiac sign itself.

The Libra Constellation

The Libra constellation is the only constellation representative of an inanimate object; the scales. In fact, the Egyptians were the first to acknowledge Libra as a constellation upon itself. Prior to this, Libra was held in the constellation of Scorpio. Moreover, the Babylonians didn’t even know Libra; their zodiac only contained eleven signs.

Stars and Location

There are no bright stars in the Libra constellation, and this makes it a little difficult to find. Numerous astronomers agree that the best way to find Libra is to use the Scorpio constellation as a guide. Here are some steps to help guide you:

To begin, choose a dark and clear night.

Find the constellation of Scorpio. Within that constellation, pick out the giant red star, Antares.

Next, look to the right of wherever you spot Scorpio’s "claws". The cluster shaped like a triangle, is Libra.

Astronomically speaking, it’s helpful to also know:

Abbreviation: Lib

Symbol: The Scales

Right Ascension: 15 hours

Declination: 15 degrees

Covers an Area of: 538 square degrees

Brightest Star: Zubeneschamali

Meteor Showers: May Librids. While these showers are very short in duration, lasting only from May 1 to the 9, the brightest point is on May 6.

Some of the bordering constellations include:

Serpens Caput
Virgo
Hydra
Centaurus
Scorpius

Images of the Scales

Are you wondering what Libra looks like up in the sky? For crystal clear images, try:

Bio Chem: This is a good site because when your mouse touches the images, the imaginary lines appear to connect the dots of the constellation.

Science and Art: Here you can see a beautiful aerial view of the constellation.

Lore Associated with Libra

Ancient Egyptians and The Scales

We know that the Egyptians were the first to acknowledge Libra as a constellation, and the image of the scales was of particular importance to the Egyptians considering how much value they put on the afterlife.

The ancient Egyptians believed that when a person died, the goddess of law, Matt, would determine if the soul was ready to enter the afterlife. This was done by placing the human soul on one side of the scales and a feather on the other side.

If the soul tipped the scales, even slightly, then Maat would determine that the person was not ready to enter the afterworld. The individual’s only hope then was to reincarnate into another soul to "work off" some of the extra weight.

Vulcan, Venus and Mars

In the beginning, Venus was married to Vulcan, a homely artisan. Vulcan, wrapped up in his work, often neglected insecure Venus. Venus was very beautiful, but she needed constant validation of that beauty, and soon she found herself in the arms of the warrior god, Mars.

Vulcan began to suspect that Venus was unfaithful, and one evening, when he was supposed to be at work, he came home early. However, Vulcan had planned ahead by creating a gold net of chains hung high upon the bed to capture the cosmic lovers in their passionate embrace. Vulcan got more than he bargained for! He did catch the pair, but they weren’t just embracing; they were making love.

Vulcan then did the unthinkable; he invited all the gods and goddesses to view the pair in this indelicate state. The goddesses of Mount Olympus refused to be a part of this lascivious scene, but almost all of the gods arrived to sate.

Unfortunately for Vulcan, Venus did not get the retribution or rebuke he expected. Instead, Mercury told Mars he’d happily switch places with him because having Venus in an embrace sounded pretty good to him. All the other Gods were just as enthralled. Luckily, compassionate Neptune (and the ruler of the Pisces constellation), demanded that Vulcan release the pair.

Characteristics of Libra

The lore surrounding this constellation helps shed light on the general characteristics of the Libra personality, namely:

Beauty: It may seem a tad bit unfair, but Librans, from Brigitte Bardot to Christopher Reeve, all seem to be beautiful.

Vain: However, comfort yourself in knowing that vanity, the dark side of beauty, is often associated with Libra.

Mental: Librans are very mental, and as the myths demonstrate, they often use whatever is at their disposal to accomplish their goals.

Putting It All Together

When it comes to beauty and love filled with explosive fireworks, look no further than the Libra constellation. Look up at the sky, make a wish on that group of stars, and see what happens!

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