The constellation of Scorpio, “The Scorpion,” lies between Libra to the west and Sagittarius to the east. It is a large constellation located in the southern hemisphere near the centre of the Milky Way. More than any other constellation, Scorpius resembles it's given name. The bright star Antares marks the heart of the arachnid, and it's long curving tail trails to the south. The scorpion once had claws, but they were cut off by Julius Ceasar to form the constellation Libra. History Scorpio is only visible from UK latitudes in the summer, and it is so low in the sky that the tail and sting of the Scorpion are lost below the southern horizon. But if you live in the southern hemisphere, it passes high in the sky. One of the oldest and brightest of all constellations. It used to be a lot larger but the part representing the scorpion’s claws now belongs to Libra. The chief star in the constellation Scorpio is Antares. The name in Greek means 'rival of Mars', because of its red colour which makes it seem like the planet Mars. Mythology Zeus placed Scorpio (also called Scorpius) at the opposite side of the sky circle to Orion, so that they can never again meet. Although Orion was important he was never chosen as one of the twelve signs of the zodiac, but Scorpio was. The scorpion holds an infamous place in Greek mythology as the slayer of Orion. One story tells that Orion fled the scorpion by swimming the sea to the island of Delos to see his lover, Athena. Apollo, seeking to punish Athena, joined her and challenged her hunting skills, daring her to shoot the black dot that approached in the water. Athena won the challenge, unknowingly killing her lover by doing so. Astrology The Western astrological sign Taurus of the tropical zodiac (April 20 - May 20) differs from the astronomical constellation and the Hindu astrological sign of the sidereal zodiac (May 14 - June 19). Scorpio is associated with the classical element Water, and thus called a Water Sign (with Cancer and Pisces). It is also one of the four Fixed signs (along with Taurus, Leo, and Aquarius). Its polar opposite is Taurus. It is the domicile of Mars (since its discovery, Pluto has been considered Scorpio's ruling or co-ruling planet by many modern astrologers). Each astrological sign is assigned a part of the body, viewed as the seat of its power. Scorpio rules the genitals. The symbols for Scorpio are the scorpion, the eagle, serpent and the phoenix.