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Virgo Constellation

Virgo (Pronounciation:Vir-go, Abbrev:Vir, Latin:Virginis) is a constellation, one of 88 constellations that the night sky is divided into. The sky is not divided up equally between the constellations. Virgo takes up 1294.428 sq. degrees of the night sky which equates to 3.14% of the night sky. The constellation gets its name as it name means The Virgin . The constellation is one of the original constellations that was devised by the Ancient Greco-Egyptian astronomer Ptolemy who lived between 90 A.D. and 168 A.D.

Virgo is a member constellation of the Zodiac grouping, a group of 12 star signs that astrologers use to predict someones future based on their date of birth and which constellation appeared when the Sun set. The Zodiac year may be divided up equally between the twelve signs but when they appear in the night sky no longer conforms to the Zodiac calendar. Virgo is an equatorial constellation that can be seen by countries nearest the Equator. The brightest star in Virgo is Spica. There are 16 Extrasolar Planets (Exoplanets) in this constellation that are detailed on this site.

IC1101, Largest Galaxy Discovered So Far

The largest galaxy so far discovered is known as IC 1101, it makes our galaxy, the milky way look so insignificant. Our galaxy is about 100,000 light years across but the IC1101 is reckoned to be 2 million light years radius. The location is controversial as some people put the galaxy in Virgo whilst others put it in Serpens. For here, I`ve chosen to put it in Virgo. The galaxy has grown large in part to it cannabalising other galaxies. It is an old, dying galaxy. Whilst there might be some star generation going on, most stars on their way out.

Sombrero Galaxy

The Sombrero Galaxy got its name from looking like a Sombrero, the flatness of the constellation as opposed to it looking like a ball and the central supermassive black hole at the centre of the galaxy. The galaxy is side onto us which gives it its flat nature. It is a galaxy with a lot of gas and star creation going on.

Size of Virgo

Virgo is the second largest constellation in the skies in area taken up. The largest of all constellations is Hydra which it not being a Zodiac sign means that Virgo not being the largest constellation false stop is the largest Zodiac constellation. Virgo accounts for 3.14% of the night sky.

Legend of the Constellation

It is believed the constellation represents Astraea, the virgin daughter of the god Zeus and the goddess Themis. She was a goddess of truth and justice because the scales were nearby. She ruled the world at one time but as man grew callous, she returned to the skies as a constellation.

Meteor Showers

There are 35 Meteor Showers that occur during the year within this constellation based on information gathered from Adam Mickiewicz University (Poland). The ones listed as the ones I've been able to find a date range for. For others if you have the time, you can visit the AMU site, obtains the SL value then use IMO tables to calculate the date. A lot of the Meteor Showers are weak and you need to do a lot of stargazing to spot them.

Name	Activity	Peak Activity	Closest Star
Pi Virginids	February 13-April 8	Mar. 3-9	Pi Virginis
Eta Virginids	February 24-March 27	Mar. 18/19	Zaniah
Theta Virginids	March 10-April 21	Mar. 20/21	Caphir
Alpha Virginids	March 10-May 6	Apr. 7-18	Spica
Gamma Virginids	April 5-21	Apr. 14/15	Porrima
Mu Virginids	1-Apr - 12-May	24 - Apr	Rijl al Awwa

Virgo Facts

Name	Virgo
Abbreviation	Vir
Is a Zodiac Sign	Yes
Brightest Star	Spica
Area	1294.428 sq. deg.
Percentage of Night Sky	3.14%
Size Position	2nd
Hemisphere	Equatorial
Site Exoplanet Count	16
Meteor Shower Count	35
Bordering / Neighbouring / Surrounding Constellations	Coma Berenices
	Virgo
	Crater
	Corvus
	Hydra
	Libra
	Serpens
	Bootes