The Scales
Libra
Genitive: Librae · abbreviation Lib
Best evening month
June
Visible from
90°S to 64°N
Centre RA
15h 24m 00s
Centre Dec
−26° 00′
In your sky
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Mythology & origin
Once the claws of the Scorpion, it later became the scales of Astraea, goddess of justice (Virgo). Its star names still mean 'southern claw' and 'northern claw'.
Ptolemy · Almagest, 2nd century AD
Zodiac
♎︎ The sign of Libra
The astrological sign shares this name but no longer matches the stars' dates — see why.
Brightest stars
- mag 2.61
Zubeneschamali
β Librae · HIP 74785
- mag 2.75
Zubenelgenubi
α2 Librae · HIP 72622
- mag 3.25
Brachium
σ Librae · HIP 73714
- mag 3.60
υ Librae
HIP 76470
- mag 3.66
τ Librae
HIP 76600
- mag 3.91
Zubenelhakrabi
γ Librae · HIP 76333
- mag 4.13
θ Librae
HIP 77853
- mag 4.47
16 Librae
HIP 73165
- mag 4.54
ι Librae
HIP 74392
- mag 4.61
37 Librae
HIP 76219