The second largest constellation

In our grand march through the constellations we now come to the second largest one in the night sky (only Hydra, the Water Snake is larger). It is another of the ancient sky forms, Virgo, the Virgin.

Virgo is one of the 12 zodiacal constellations as the Sun spends part of its trip around the ecliptic there.

As for mythological background you can take your pick. Many ancient civilizations had their own ideas about who Virgo was ranging from Isis, the Egyptian mother goddess, to Ishtar of the Sumerian-Chaldean civilizations, to Ceres, the goddess of agriculture of the Greeks and Romans. Almost always she was presented as a maiden.

Virgo is a spread out constellation and is often difficult to locate. Most usually it is depicted as a rectangle with arms reaching up toward Leo and Coma Berenices. Its brightest star, Spica, is at the lower right corner of the rectangle.

Spica can be located by using the handle of the Big Dipper as a guide. Follow the arch in the handle to Arcturus (in Bootes), "arc to Arcturus then speed on to Spica." The other stars making up the constellation are dimmer second and third magnitude.

To the ancients, Spica usually represented a sheaf of wheat, an ear of corn, or some other harvested agricultural product the maiden was holding. The harvest association comes from the fact that the autumnal equinox (the point the Sun occupies in the sky when it crosses the celestial equator) is located in Virgo.

Another way to find the constellation is to use Bootes. Instead of a kite, imagine it is an arrowhead pointing right at Virgo. Also the long side of the triangle of stars making up the hind quarters of Leo point to Virgo.

The major attraction in Virgo for astronomers is the Virgo super cluster of galaxies. The super cluster contains dozens of galaxies and reaches from the northern part of Virgo into the southern part of Coma Berenices (which we discussed last week).

Thanks to the super cluster Virgo has 11 Messier objects (from Charles Messier, the French comet hunter). Only Sagittarius, in the summer sky, has more with 15.

Many of these galaxies can be seen with binoculars. Be warned, they will be small, fuzzy, clumps of light. In a moderate telescope (six inches or larger) the galaxies can take on spiral or globular form. It is worth your time, however, to spend some time with binoculars roaming around between the two constellations as there are many double stars there too.

With the evening temperatures moderating that could provide a pleasant evening diversion. However, thanks to the good folks at "Daylight Saving Time," Virgo will not be clearly above the eastern horizon until after 9 p.m. The constellation will appear to be standing upright when it comes over the horizon. Unfortunately, the just-past full Moon will be rising shortly after that and its light will wipe out any view of the constellation.

SKY WATCH: Bright Venus will provide us with another form of pleasant spring evening diversion this week. Starting on Saturday, April 7, about an hour after sunset look in the west for a conjunction of Venus and the star cluster Pleiades. They will be about five degrees (about the width of your fist held at arms length) apart. As the week progresses check each evening to watch as Venus moves up and past the cluster.

Next time, The Cup and The Crow.