Virgo is one of the constellations of the zodiac and belongs to the 88 modern constellations.
According to the tropical astrology, the Sun transits Virgo between August 23 and September 22 while in the sidereal astrology it does it between September 17 and October 17.
This constellation lies between Leo to the west and Libra to the east. Described by the Greek astronomer Aratus. Astrologically, this is associated with the planets Pluto and Mercury.
Stars at Virgo
1. Spica – α Virginis (Alpha Virginis)
Spica is the brightest star in Virgo and the 15th brightest star in the sky. It has an apparent magnitude of 1.04. It is a rotating ellipsoidal variable star, which is to say a non-eclipsing close binary star system in which the two components do not eclipse each other, but are mutually distorted through their gravitational interaction.
The name Spica comes from the Latin spīca virginis, which means “Virgo’s ear of grain.”
Spica is classified as a blue giant of the spectral types B1 III-IV and B2 V, approximately 260 light years distant from the solar system. It is one of the nearest massive double stars to the solar system. The primary star is midway between the subgiant and giant stage of evolution (spectral class B1 III-IV) and about 12,100 times brighter than the Sun.
T
he secondary component is a main sequence star of the spectral type B2 V. It is one of the rare examples of the Struve-Sahade effect, which occurs with double-lined spectroscopic binary stars when their spectral lines become weaker and shift toward the red end of the spectrum as the stars move away from the observer. When they approach the observer, however, the lines are shifted toward the blue end of the spectrum. The effect was first observed by the Russian astronomer Otto Struve in 1937.
Located 260 light years away, the primary star is one of the nearest stars sufficiently evolved and massive enough to explode as a Type II supernova.
Spica is classified as a Beta Cephei type variable star, which is to say a main sequence star that exhibits changes in brightness as a result of pulsations of its surface, and is at its brightest at the point of maximum contraction.
Spica was most likely the star that helped the Greek astronomer and mathematician Hipparchus discover precession of the equinoxes in 127 BC. Precession of the equinoxes, or axial precession, is the gradual change in the orientation of Earth’s axis of rotation. Hipparchus measured the longitude of bright stars, Spica and Regulusin the constellation Leo among others, and when he compared the data to measurements of his predecessors, he found that Spica had moved 2° relative to the autumnal equinox (astronomical event around September 22 when the tilt of the earth’s axis is inclined neither away from nor towards the Sun, with the centre of the Sun in the same plane as the Earth’s equator).
Nicolaus Copernicus, who was the first to propose a comprehensive heliocentric cosmology, displacing the Earth from the centre of the universe, also made numerous observations of Spica while researching precession.
The easiest way to find Spica in the sky is to follow the arc of the Big Dipper’s handle to Arcturus in the constellation Boötes and continue along the same line to Spica.
2. Zavijava – β Virginis (Beta Virginis)
Beta Virginis belongs to the spectral class F9 V and is only 35.65 light years distant from the Sun. Even though it is designated beta, it is only the fifth brightest star in the constellation.
The star’s traditional name, Zavijava (sometimes Zavijah, Zavyava or Zawijah), is derived from the Arabic zāwiyat al-cawwa’, which means “the corner of the barking dog.” It was also sometimes known as Alaraph.
3. Porrima – γ Virginis (Gamma Virginis)
Porrima, Gamma Virginis, is a binary star. Porrima is the name of two goddesses of prophecy, the Carmenae. The star is also sometimes known as Postvarta, Arich and Laouiyet al Aoua. The latter was translated into Latin as Angulus Latratoris and it means “the angle of the barker.”
Together with Beta, Eta, Delta and Epsilon Virginis, the star formed as asterism known as Barker, or Al ʽAwwāʼ. Gamma Virginis has a visual magnitude of 2.74 and is approximately 38.1 light years distant.
Both stars in the Gamma Virginis system are of the spectral type F0V and have similar visual magnitudes, 3.65 and 3.56.
Mythology
The constellation Virgo is usually associated with the Greek goddess of justice, Dike. Dike was the daughter of Zeus and Greek Titaness Themis. Virgo is usually depicted with angel-like wings, with an ear of wheat in her left hand, marked by the bright star Spica. She is located next to Libra, the constellation representing the scales of justice. Dike was also sometimes known as Astraeia, daughter of Astraeus, considered father of the stars, and Eos, goddess of the dawn.
In Greek mythology, Dike lived in the Golden Age of mankind. She was born a mortal and placed on Earth to rule over human justice. The Golden Age was marked by prosperity and peace, everlasting spring, and humans never knowing old age. When Zeus fulfilled the old prophecy and overthrew his father, this marked the beginning of the Silver Age, which was not as prosperous. Zeus introduced the four seasons and humans no longer honoured the gods as they had used to. Dike gave a speech to the entire race, warning them about the dangers of leaving behind the ideals of their predecessors and saying worse was yet to come. Then she flew to the mountains, turning her back on humans. When the Bronze and Iron Ages came and humans started warring among themselves, Dike left the Earth altogether, and flew to the heavens.
In other stories, the constellation Virgo is identified with Demeter, the corn goddess Atargatis, the Syrian goddess of fertility, and Erigone, the daughter of Icarius, who hanged herself after her father’s death. In this version of the myth, Icarius is associated with the constellation Boötes and the star Procyon in Canis Minorrepresents Icarius’ loyal dog Maera.
Historians Eratosthenes and Hyginus also associate the constellation Virgo with Tyche, the goddess of fortune, even though Tyche is usually depicted as holding the horn of plenty and not an ear of grain. The name of the star Spica, which marks the ear of grain held by the goddess, means exactly that, “the ear of grain” in Latin.
Reference:
http://www.constellation-guide.com/constellation-list/virgo-constellation/ https://www.thehoroscope.co/sign-articles/virgo-Virgo-Constellation-Facts-33. htmlhttps://www.videoblocks.com/video/virgo-constellation-on-a-beautiful-starry-night-background-hec8sz-hiswovin1 http://www.astronomytrek.com/virgo-the-virgin/