Libra
Libra is a faint constellation that is the 29th biggest in the night sky, and the only zodiac sign not to represent a living creature. Instead, Libra is depicted in the heavens as “weighing scales” placed next to the hand of its neighbouring constellation Virgo, a goddess of justice who had scales as an emblem of her office. The measuring symbol for pounds (“lb”) is an abbreviation of the word Libra.
Ancient Greeks knew the part of the sky occupied by the Libra constellation as Chelae, or “claws,” and considered it part of Scorpio constellation. Chelae represented the scorpion’s claws.
The association of this region of the sky with scales was established among the Romans in the first century BC. It is said that Moon was located in Libra when Rome was founded. The Romans considered Libra to be a favoured constellation, one associated with balanced seasons and equal length of night and day. The Sun was at the autumnal equinox in Libra until the year 729, when the precession of the equinoxes shifted the equinox to Virgo. The autumnal equinox will move to constellation Leo in the year 2439.
Mythology
Location
At one time Libra was considered part of Scorpius — the scales looked like claws hung upside down — but then Roman astronomers redrew the skyline and moved the claws of the scorpion to Libra.
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Right Ascension: 15.21 hours
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Declination: -15.59 degrees
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Visible: between 65 degrees and -90 degrees
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Best viewing: At 9 p.m. during June
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Deep Sky Objects in Libra
NGC 5792
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NGC 5792 is another barred spiral galaxy in Libra. It has an apparent magnitude of 12.1 and is approximately 83 million light years distant from the Sun.
NGC 5890
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NGC 5890 is an unbarred lenticular galaxy in Libra. It was discovered by the American astronomer Ormond Stone in April 1785. It has an apparent magnitude of 14.
NGC 5897
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NGC 5897 is a relatively large globular cluster in Libra.
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It has an integrated magnitude of 9 and is approximately 40,000 light years distant from the solar system.
NGC 5885
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NGC 5885 is a barred spiral galaxy in Libra.
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It has an apparent magnitude of 11.8. The galaxy was discovered by William Herschel on May 9, 1784.
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