Which constellation represents a scorpion?

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Which constellation represents a scorpion? Scorpius represents the scorpion.

Scorpius is a zodiac constellation in the southern celestial hemisphere, positioned near the dense star fields of the Milky Way. Its bright stars form a distinctive curved pattern that resembles a scorpion, including a hooked tail ending near Shaula and Lesath. Antares, a reddish supergiant, marks the creature’s heart and is often described as Mars’s rival because of its color.

The constellation is ancient and was included among the 48 constellations catalogued by Ptolemy in the second century. In Greek mythology, a giant scorpion was sent against Orion, the hunter. The two constellations are placed opposite one another in the sky, reinforcing the story that Orion flees when Scorpius appears.

Scorpius is not the same thing as Scorpio, the astrological sign. Astronomy uses official constellation boundaries, while astrology divides the zodiac into twelve equal signs. Under modern astronomical boundaries, the Sun spends only about six days in Scorpius, while much of the traditional astrological region also involves Ophiuchus.

Source: Wikipedia · fact-checked Aug. 2026

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