![]() ![]() ![]() Virgo contains many excellent sights, including 11 Messier objects - the most of any constellation except Sagittarius. There truly is a lot to explore within Virgo, as the large constellation measures over 1,200 square degrees in the night sky. The moderately bright binary star system Gamma Virginis lies at the center as if it's the glowing heart of the virgin. Many of Virgo's stars are quite faint, but if you're in a dark sky you may be able to trace the major components of the constellation, which make a stick figure person with bright Spica as one hand and smaller Vindemiatrix ("the grape gatherer") as the other. Spica is a bright blue variable star, whose name means "ear of grain." Continuing along that curve, you'll then find Spica, the brightest star in Virgo, and you can trace the remainder of the constellation from there. The easiest way to find Virgo is with the handy phrase, "arc to Arcturus and speed on to Spica." Starting with the curved handle of the Big Dipper, follow that arc to the bright star Arcturus, which lies in the constellation Boötes. ![]()
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