Constellation Libra (Scales)

Properties
Libra is a small, less conspicuous ecliptic constellation and lies west of the prominent star formation around Antares. One can easily imagine the outstretched claws of the beautiful summer constellation Scorpio in the stars. With a little more imagination you can also recognize a beam balance. The area of the constellation is 538 square degrees and the center culminates around midnight on May 9th. [9, 15]
Stars with Proper Names:
- α2 Librae: Zuben Elgenubi, Zubenelgenubi, Kiffa Australis, Elkhiffa Australis
- β Librae: Zuben Elschemali, Zuben Eschamali, Zuben El Chamali, Zubenesch, Zubenelg, Kiffa Borealis
- γ Librae: Zuben Elakrab, Zuben Hakraki, Zuben El Hakrabi
- δ Librae: Zuben Elakribi
- σ Librae: Brachium, Cornu, Zuben El Genubi, Zuban Al Akrab, Zuben Hakrabi
IAU Name | Libra |
IAU Genitive | Librae |
IAU Abbr. | Lib |
English Name | Scales |
Season (47° N) | March … June |
Right Ascension | 14h 21m 39s … 16h 02m 18s |
Declination | -29° 59' 42" … -0° 28' 28" |
Area | 538 deg2 |
Neighbours (N↻) | Ser, Vir, Hya, Cen, Lup, Sco, Oph |
Mythology and History

The ancient Greeks still counted the area where the constellation Libra is today to Scorpius and saw Scorpio's claws here. This is where the Arabic star names come from. During Julius Caesar's lifetime, the Romans separated into this area and formed the independent constellation and zodiac sign Libra. This happened in honor of Julius Caesar because of his contribution to the reform of the Roman calendar and his proverbial justice. The scales are seen as a symbol of justice and are held up by Astraea, the goddess of law. A legend connects Astraea with the neighboring constellation Virgo. [7, 21, 59]
Catalogs
HR | B | F | RA [hms] | Dec [dms] | vMag | spType | dMag | Sep ["] |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
5383 | 2 | 14 23 25.6 | -11 42 51 | 6.21 | G7III | |||
5484 | 4 | 14 43 13.6 | -24 59 51 | 5.73 | B9 v | |||
5503 | 5 | 14 45 57.8 | -15 27 35 | 6.33 | K1III | 4.7 | 3.1 | |
5523 | μ | 7 | 14 49 19.1 | -14 08 56 | 5.31 | A1pSrCrEu | 0.9 | 1.8 |
5530 | α1 | 8 | 14 50 41.2 | -15 59 50 | 5.15 | F4IV | 0.4 | 0.0 |
5531 | α2 | 9 | 14 50 52.7 | -16 02 30 | 2.75 | A3IV | 0.4 | 0.0 |
5535 | 11 | 14 51 01.0 | -02 17 57 | 4.94 | G8III-IV | |||
5548 | 12 | 14 54 20.1 | -24 38 32 | 5.30 | K2III | |||
5554 | ξ1 | 13 | 14 54 22.9 | -11 53 54 | 5.80 | G7III | ||
5564 | ξ2 | 15 | 14 56 46.1 | -11 24 35 | 5.46 | K4III | ||
5570 | 16 | 14 57 11.0 | -04 20 47 | 4.49 | F0V | |||
5578 | 17 | 14 58 13.4 | -11 09 18 | 6.60 | A1V | |||
5582 | 18 | 14 58 53.6 | -11 08 39 | 5.87 | K3-IIICN1 | 3.8 | 19.7 | |
5586 | δ | 19 | 15 00 58.4 | -08 31 08 | 4.92 | B9.5V | 6.4 | 106.3 |
5603 | σ | 20 | 15 04 04.2 | -25 16 55 | 3.29 | M3-III e | ||
5622 | ν | 21 | 15 06 37.6 | -16 15 25 | 5.20 | K5-III | ||
5652 | ι1 | 24 | 15 12 13.3 | -19 47 30 | 4.54 | A0pSi v | 0.6 | 0.1 |
5656 | ι2 | 25 | 15 13 19.2 | -19 38 51 | 6.08 | A3Vn | ||
5657 | 23 | 15 13 28.7 | -25 18 33 | 6.45 | G4V | |||
5662 | 26 | 15 14 33.7 | -17 46 07 | 6.17 | B9.5III | |||
5685 | β | 27 | 15 17 00.4 | -09 22 59 | 2.61 | B8V | ||
5701 | 28 | 15 20 53.7 | -18 09 31 | 6.17 | G8III | |||
5703 | ο | 29 | 15 21 01.4 | -15 32 54 | 6.30 | F0III | 2.2 | 44.4 |
5723 | ε | 31 | 15 24 11.9 | -10 19 20 | 4.94 | F5IV | ||
5743 | ζ1 | 32 | 15 28 15.4 | -16 42 59 | 5.64 | K5III | ||
5750 | ζ3 | 34 | 15 30 40.4 | -16 36 34 | 5.82 | gG6 | ||
5764 | ζ4 | 35 | 15 32 55.2 | -16 51 10 | 5.50 | B2Vn | 2.0 | 0.0 |
5775 | 36 | 15 34 37.3 | -28 02 49 | 5.15 | K4III | |||
5777 | 37 | 15 34 10.7 | -10 03 52 | 4.62 | K1III-IV | |||
5787 | γ | 38 | 15 35 31.6 | -14 47 22 | 3.91 | G8.5III | 0.2 | 0.1 |
5794 | υ | 39 | 15 37 01.5 | -28 08 06 | 3.58 | K3III e | 7.0 | 3.5 |
5812 | τ | 40 | 15 38 39.4 | -29 46 40 | 3.66 | B2.5V | ||
5814 | 41 | 15 38 54.5 | -19 18 07 | 5.38 | G8III v | |||
5824 | 42 | 15 40 16.9 | -23 49 05 | 4.96 | K3IIICN1 | |||
5838 | κ | 43 | 15 41 56.8 | -19 40 44 | 4.74 | M0-IIIb | 5.0 | 172.0 |
5848 | η | 44 | 15 44 04.4 | -15 40 22 | 5.41 | F0IV | ||
5902 | λ | 45 | 15 53 20.1 | -20 10 02 | 5.03 | B2.5V | 2.0 | 0.0 |
5908 | θ | 46 | 15 53 49.5 | -16 43 46 | 4.15 | G8.5IIIb | ||
5915 | 47 | 15 55 00.3 | -19 22 59 | 5.94 | B5V | 2.0 | 0.7 | |
5941 | 48 | 15 58 11.4 | -14 16 46 | 4.88 | B5IIIp t | |||
5954 | 49 | 16 00 19.6 | -16 32 00 | 5.47 | F8V | 5.6 | 155.1 | |
5959 | 50 | 16 00 47.6 | -08 24 41 | 5.55 | A0V s |
Name | RA | Dec | Type | Bmag | Vmag | Dim | Dreyer Description | Identification |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
NGC 5595 | 14 24 13.3 | -16 43 21 | Gx (SBc) | 12.6 | 12.0 | 2.40 × 1.3 | F, pL, R, vgbM, p of 2 | MCG -3-37-1, VV 446, VV 530, IRAS 14214-1629 |
NGC 5597 | 14 24 27.4 | -16 45 48 | Gx (SBcd) | 12.6 | 12.0 | 2.10 × 1.9 | vF, L, vlE, vglbM, f of 2 | MCG -3-37-2, VV 446, IRAS 14216-1632 |
NGC 5605 | 14 25 07.5 | -13 09 49 | Gx (SBc) | 12.9 | 12.3 | 1.50 × 1.3 | vF, pL, R, vgbM | MCG -2-37-3, IRAS 14223-1256 |
NGC 5663 | 14 33 56.2 | -16 34 50 | Gx (E-S0) | 15.2 | 14.2 | 1.40 × 1.3 | eF, vS, R, glbM | MCG -3-37-3, NPM1G -16.0459 |
NGC 5664 | 14 33 43.7 | -14 37 10 | Gx (Sa) | 14.5 | 13.6 | 0.80 × 0.3 | pF, S, E, gbM | IC 4455, MCG -2-37-8, IRAS 14309-1424 |
NGC 5716 | 14 41 05.5 | -17 28 36 | Gx (SBc) | 13.3 | 12.6 | 1.90 × 1.3 | vF, pL, R | MCG -3-37-4, IRAS 14383-1715 |
NGC 5726 | 14 42 55.8 | -18 26 39 | Gx (E-S0) | 13.7 | 12.7 | 1.30 × 1.0 | F, S, R, gbM, * 10.5 np 3' | ESO 580-12, MCG -3-37-6 |
NGC 5728 | 14 42 24.0 | -17 15 08 | Gx (Sab) | 12.3 | 11.4 | 3.20 × 1.9 | pF, pL, pmE 45° ±, mbM, * 10 s | MCG -3-37-5, IRAS 14396-1702 |
NGC 5729 | 14 42 06.9 | -09 00 35 | Gx (Sb) | 13.0 | 12.2 | 2.60 × 0.7 | F, pL, E, r | MCG -1-37-12, IRAS 14394-0847 |
NGC 5734 | 14 45 09.1 | -20 52 13 | Gx (S0) | 13.6 | 12.6 | 1.50 × 1.0 | vF, S, lE, glbM | ESO 580-16, MCG -3-38-3, IRAS 14423-2039 |
NGC 5741 | 14 45 51.6 | -11 54 49 | Gx (E0) | 14.6 | 13.6 | 1.10 × 1.1 | vF, vS, R, sbMN | MCG -2-38-8, NPM1G -11.0410 |
NGC 5742 | 14 45 36.8 | -11 48 35 | Gx (SB0) | 14.0 | 13.0 | 1.30 × 0.5 | F, pS, pmE, gbMN | MCG -2-38-7, IRAS 14428-1135 |
NGC 5743 | 14 45 10.9 | -20 54 47 | Gx (Sb) | 13.7 | 12.9 | 1.40 × 0.5 | F, S, mE, smbMN | ESO 580-17, MCG -3-38-4, IRAS 14423-2042 |
NGC 5744 | 14 46 38.4 | -18 30 48 | Gx (Sab) | 14.3 | 13.5 | 1.00 × 0.7 | eF, vS, neb? | ESO 580-23, MCG -3-38-7, IRAS 14438-1818 |
NGC 5745 1 | 14 45 01.8 | -13 56 48 | Gx (Sa) | 14.3 | 13.4 | 1.70 × 1.2 | vF, S, E, pslbM | MCG -2-38-4, VV 98, NPM1G -13.0456, IRAS 14423-1344 |
NGC 5745 2 | 14 45 01.1 | -13 56 56 | Gx (C) | 15.5 | 14.5 | 0.30 × 0.3 | vF, S, E, pslbM | MCG -2-38-4, VV 98 |
NGC 5745 3 | 14 44 57.1 | -13 57 54 | Gx (C) | 16.5 | 15.5 | 0.20 × 0.2 | vF, S, E, pslbM | VV 98 |
NGC 5756 | 14 47 33.7 | -14 51 12 | Gx (SBbc) | 13.1 | 12.3 | 2.80 × 1.3 | pB, pL, pmE, gpmbM | MCG -2-38-12, IRAS 14448-1438 |
NGC 5757 | 14 47 46.3 | -19 04 40 | Gx (SBb) | 12.7 | 11.9 | 2.10 × 1.7 | vF, S, iR, lbM | ESO 580-33, MCG -3-38-14, IRAS 14449-1852 |
NGC 5761 | 14 49 08.2 | -20 22 32 | Gx (S0) | 13.4 | 12.4 | 1.40 × 1.3 | vF, S, R, glbMN | ESO 580-39, MCG -3-38-18 |
NGC 5766 | 14 53 09.5 | -21 23 36 | Gx (SBbc) | 14.1 | 13.3 | 1.10 × 0.7 | eF, pS, R, gbM | ESO 580-50, MCG -3-38-24, IRAS 14503-2111 |
NGC 5768 | 14 52 07.9 | -02 31 49 | Gx (Sc) | 13.2 | 12.5 | 1.80 × 1.4 | F, R, bMFN, S * s | UGC 9564, MCG 0-38-9, CGCG 20-26, KARA 652, IRAS 14495-0219 |
NGC 5781 | 14 56 41.1 | -17 14 39 | Gx (SBb) | 13.8 | 13.0 | 1.40 × 0.8 | F, S, R, bM, * 16 sp | MCG -3-38-28, IRAS 14539-1702 |
NGC 5791 | 14 58 46.0 | -19 16 01 | Gx (E6) | 12.7 | 11.7 | 2.50 × 1.3 | pF, S, R, stellar | ESO 581-7, MCG -3-38-35 |
NGC 5792 | 14 58 22.6 | -01 05 25 | Gx (SBb) | 12.1 | 11.3 | 6.80 × 1.7 | pB, pL, R, mbM, * 8·9 np 1' | UGC 9631, MCG 0-38-12, CGCG 20-38, IRAS 14557-0053 |
NGC 5793 | 14 59 24.7 | -16 41 36 | Gx (Sb) | 14.3 | 13.2 | 1.70 × 0.6 | eF, pS, E, bMN | MCG -3-38-38, IRAS 14566-1629 |
NGC 5796 | 14 59 24.0 | -16 37 25 | Gx (E3) | 12.7 | 11.6 | 2.50 × 1.8 | F, pS * in centre | MCG -3-38-39 |
NGC 5801 | 15 00 25.9 | -13 54 13 | Gx (Sb) | 15.5 | 14.7 | 0.70 × 0.5 | vF, vS, sbM, 1st of 3 | NPM1G -13.0467 |
NGC 5802 | 15 00 29.9 | -13 55 06 | Gx (S0) | 15.2 | 14.2 | 0.90 × 0.5 | vF, vS, sbM, 2nd and brightest | NPM1G -13.0469 |
NGC 5803 | 15 00 34.4 | -13 53 38 | Gx (E-S0) | 15.8 | 14.8 | 0.60 × 0.5 | vF, vS, sbM, 3rd of 3 | NPM1G -13.0470 |
NGC 5809 | 15 00 52.2 | -14 09 55 | Gx (S0-a) | 14.3 | 13.4 | 1.40 × 0.7 | vF, S, E, glbM | MCG -2-38-25, IRAS 14581-1358 |
NGC 5810 | 15 02 42.5 | -17 52 06 | Gx (SBb) | 14.1 | 13.3 | 1.20 × 0.8 | eF, vS, lE 230°, bet 2 vF st | ESO 581-18, MCG -3-38-46, IRAS 14598-1740 |
NGC 5812 | 15 00 55.7 | -07 27 27 | Gx (E1) | 12.2 | 11.2 | 2.30 × 2.0 | cB, S, R, svmbM | MCG -1-38-16, UGCA 398 |
NGC 5815 | 15 00 29.1 | -16 50 02 | Gx (Sb) | 15.1 | 14.3 | 0.80 × 0.4 | eF, pS, E 10°, D * inv | MCG -3-38-44, IRAS 14576-1638 |
NGC 5816 | 15 00 04.8 | -16 05 37 | Gx (S0) | 15.8 | 14.8 | 0.50 × 0.3 | F, pS, gbMN, stellar | |
NGC 5817 | 14 59 40.8 | -16 10 50 | Gx (S0) | 15.2 | 14.2 | 0.90 × 0.7 | vF, pS | MCG -3-38-41, NPM1G -15.0520 |
NGC 5849 | 15 06 50.6 | -14 34 16 | Gx (S0) | 14.9 | 13.9 | 0.90 × 0.8 | * 13 in vF neb, 3 st p 1s, * 8 f 10s, 15' s | MCG -2-38-35, NPM1G -14.0559 |
NGC 5858 | 15 08 49.1 | -11 12 29 | Gx (E6) | 13.4 | 12.4 | 1.50 × 0.7 | F, S, stell N, II 192 sf | MCG -2-39-2 |
NGC 5861 | 15 09 16.2 | -11 19 20 | Gx (SBc) | 12.3 | 11.6 | 3.00 × 1.7 | F, L, E, r | MCG -2-39-3, IRAS 15065-1107 |
NGC 5863 | 15 10 48.3 | -18 25 52 | Gx (SBa) | 13.8 | 12.9 | 1.40 × 1.2 | * 12 in eF neb, S, R | ESO 581-22, MCG -3-39-1, NPM1G -18.0484 |
NGC 5872 | 15 10 55.6 | -11 28 46 | Gx (S0) | 13.6 | 12.6 | 1.50 × 0.9 | No description | MCG -2-39-5, NPM1G -11.0427 |
NGC 5877 | 15 12 53.1 | -04 55 27 | *3 | vF, S, * 12 att n | ||||
NGC 5878 | 15 13 45.7 | -14 16 13 | Gx (Sb) | 12.4 | 11.5 | 3.50 × 1.4 | pB, pL, pmE 0°, psmbM, * inv | MCG -2-39-6, UGCA 403, IRAS 15109-1405 |
NGC 5880 | 15 15 01.0 | -14 34 42 | Gx (S0) | 15.1 | 14.1 | 0.70 × 0.6 | eF, vS, R, bM, in field with 5883 | MCG -2-39-12, NPM1G -14.0561 |
NGC 5883 | 15 15 10.1 | -14 36 59 | Gx (S0) | 14.6 | 13.6 | 0.90 × 0.5 | No description | MCG -2-39-14, NPM1G -14.0562 |
NGC 5885 | 15 15 04.2 | -10 05 09 | Gx (SBc) | 12.3 | 11.8 | 3.50 × 3.1 | F, cL, R, vgbM | MCG -2-39-13, IRAS 15123-0954 |
NGC 5890 | 15 17 51.1 | -17 35 19 | Gx (S0-a) | 13.6 | 12.7 | 1.30 × 1.0 | vF, vS, E 235° | MCG -3-39-4, NPM1G -17.0406, IRAS 15150-1724 |
NGC 5891 | 15 16 13.2 | -11 29 38 | Gx (Sbc) | 14.6 | 13.8 | 0.80 × 0.5 | vF, pS, lE, gbM, * 11 f | MCG -2-39-15, IRAS 15134-1118 |
NGC 5892 | 15 13 48.1 | -15 27 51 | Gx (SBcd) | 12.4 | 11.7 | 3.60 × 2.9 | eF, L, gbM | MCG -2-39-7, Fath 703, NPM1G -15.0523, A 1511-15 |
NGC 5897 | 15 17 24.5 | -21 00 35 | GCL (XI) | 8.4 | 11.00 | globular, pF, L, viR, vgbM, rrr | GCL 33, ESO 582-SC2 | |
NGC 5898 | 15 18 13.6 | -24 05 51 | Gx (E0) | 12.5 | 11.4 | 2.70 × 2.6 | F, S, R, gbM | ESO 514-2, MCG -4-36-6, UGCA 404, AM 1515-235 |
NGC 5903 | 15 18 36.5 | -24 04 06 | Gx (E2) | 12.2 | 11.2 | 2.70 × 2.1 | cF, S, R, gpmbM | ESO 514-4, MCG -4-36-8, UGCA 405, AM 1515-235 |
NGC 5915 | 15 21 33.0 | -13 05 30 | Gx (SBab) | 12.8 | 12.3 | 1.60 × 1.1 | B, S, R, glbM, p of 2 | MCG -2-39-19, UGCA 407, IRAS 15187-1254 |
NGC 5916 | 15 21 37.8 | -13 10 09 | Gx (SBa/P) | 14.2 | 13.2 | 2.80 × 0.9 | F, S, lE, glbM, f of 2 | MCG -2-39-20, IRAS 15188-1259 |
NGC 5916 A | 15 21 13.7 | -13 06 03 | Gx (SBc/P) | 15.1 | 14.4 | 1.10 × 0.3 | F, S, lE, glbM, f of 2 | MCG -2-39-18 |
NGC 5917 | 15 21 32.5 | -07 22 39 | Gx (Sb) | 13.8 | 13.0 | 1.60 × 0.9 | eF, vS, psbM | MCG -1-39-2, Arp 254, IRAS 15188-0711 |
NGC 5959 | 15 37 22.3 | -16 35 46 | Gx (E2) | 14.4 | 13.4 | 2.00 × 1.7 | vF, pS, vlE, bMN | MCG -3-40-2, NPM1G -16.0490 |
NGC 5973 | 15 40 15.6 | -08 36 03 | Gx (S0-a) | 15.3 | 14.4 | 0.90 × 0.3 | F, S, iR | |
NGC 5978 | 15 42 27.1 | -13 14 02 | Gx (Sa) | 14.9 | 14.0 | 0.80 × 0.7 | eF, vS, sbMN, am st | MCG -2-40-2, NPM1G -13.0488 |
NGC 5995 | 15 48 24.9 | -13 45 26 | Gx (Sa) | 14.5 | 13.6 | 0.90 × 0.7 | eF, S, R, vS * p | MCG -2-40-4, NPM1G -13.0491, IRAS 15456-1336 |
IC 1055 | 14 47 25.6 | -13 42 58 | Gx (Sb) | 13.4 | 12.6 | 2.00 × 0.7 | F, pL, E ns | MCG -2-38-11, IRAS 14446-1330 |
IC 1059 | 14 50 42.5 | -00 52 31 | Gx (C) | 15.0 | 14.0 | 0.80 × 0.7 | F, S, lbm, r | CGCG 20-24, NPM1G -00.0458 |
IC 1060 | 14 51 47.3 | -07 13 55 | Gx (Sa) | 14.3 | 13.4 | 1.40 × 0.8 | No descr | MCG -1-38-4, NPM1G -07.0452, IRAS 14491-0701 |
IC 1077 | 14 57 21.6 | -19 12 53 | Gx (SBbc) | 13.4 | 12.6 | 1.40 × 1.1 | vF, vS, R, gbMN | ESO 581-2, MCG -3-38-30, IRAS 14545-1900 |
IC 1080 | 14 57 59.7 | -06 43 22 | Gx (E-S0) | 14.8 | 13.8 | 1.40 × 0.9 | vF, vS, R, lbM | MCG -1-38-10, NPM1G -06.0478 |
IC 1081 | 14 58 55.0 | -19 14 21 | Gx (SB0-a) | 14.6 | 13.7 | 1.40 × 0.5 | eF, pL, E 175° | ESO 581-9, MCG -3-38-36 |
IC 1084 | 15 01 14.8 | -07 28 32 | Gx (E3) | 15.1 | 14.2 | 0.60 × 0.4 | eF, S, R, dif | MCG -1-38-17 |
IC 1091 | 15 08 13.4 | -11 08 26 | Gx (SBb) | 14.2 | 13.4 | 1.00 × 0.7 | vF, S, dif | MCG -2-39-1, IRAS 15055-1057 |
IC 1104 | 15 12 49.9 | -05 03 22 | * | 15.4 | vF | |||
IC 1115 | 15 22 19.0 | -04 28 28 | *2 | eeF, S, R, pB * sf | ||||
IC 4455 | 14 33 43.7 | -14 37 10 | Sa | 14.5 | 13.6 | 0.80 × 0.3 | eF, cS, cE 30° | NGC 5664, MCG -2-37-8, IRAS 14309-1424 |
IC 4468 | 14 38 26.8 | -22 22 02 | Gx (SBc) | 13.6 | 12.9 | 2.20 × 0.7 | F, pL, cE 160°, cbM | ESO 580-6, MCG -4-35-1, AM 1435-220, IRAS 14355-2209 |
IC 4476 | 14 39 51.8 | -16 14 41 | Gx (E3) | 15.3 | 14.3 | 0.60 × 0.4 | Neb, * 7 nf 5' | NPM1G -16.0465 |
IC 4491 | 14 44 28.2 | -13 43 30 | NF | F, S, eE 0° | IC 1055 ? | |||
IC 4501 | 14 47 25.4 | -22 24 21 | Gx (Sa?) | 14.5 | 13.6 | 1.00 × 0.7 | vF, S, indistinct | ESO 580-25, MCG -4-35-9, IRAS 14445-2211 |
IC 4510 | 14 50 40.0 | -20 43 54 | NF | vF, vS, iR, susp | Plate defect? | |||
IC 4513 | 14 52 16.0 | -20 43 42 | NF | F, S, vE 80° | Plate defect? | |||
IC 4536 | 15 13 17.3 | -18 08 15 | Gx (SBdm) | 13.6 | 13.0 | 2.20 × 1.8 | vF, L, R, F * att np, F * nr sf | ESO 581-24, MCG -3-39-2, UGCA 401, IRAS 15104-1756 |
IC 4538 | 15 21 11.6 | -23 39 30 | Gx (SBc) | 12.8 | 12.1 | 2.60 × 2.0 | eeF, vL | ESO 514-10, MCG -4-36-13, UGCA 406, IRAS 15182-2328 |