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Sky-Tonight.com / Constellations / Virgo
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Observation Settings

Or select it on the map:
This Earth map fragment is intended to illustrate celestial motion across the sky, emphasizing both bearing and elevational perspectives. The map's center point corresponds to the transit, showcasing celestial objects at their highest point, while elevation gradually decreases towards the map edges. This dynamic representation offers insights into the changing positions of celestial bodies with a focus on their bearing and elevational trajectories.
Your location: Columbus, United States
Timezone:
Latitude:
39.9625
Longitude:
-83.0061

Virgo Constellation

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Virgo, the maiden, is a large zodiac constellation associated with the goddess of fertility and agriculture, known for containing the bright star Spica.

Virgo (The Maiden)

Virgo is the second-largest constellation in the night sky and one of the 13 ecliptic constellations. It is often depicted as a maiden holding a sheaf of wheat, symbolizing harvest and fertility. Virgo is notable for its bright star Spica and its rich collection of galaxies within the Virgo Cluster.

Key Features

  • Bright Stars: Virgo contains several prominent stars:
    • Spica: The brightest star in Virgo and one of the brightest in the night sky, representing the ear of wheat in the maiden’s hand. It is a blue giant located approximately 250 light-years away.
    • Porrima: A binary star system named after a Roman goddess of prophecy.
    • Vindemiatrix: A yellow giant star associated with the grape harvest in ancient times.
  • Deep-Sky Objects: Virgo is home to a wealth of galaxies and clusters:
    • Virgo Cluster: A massive cluster of over 1,300 galaxies, including prominent ones such as Messier 87 (M87) and Messier 49 (M49).
    • Messier 104 (Sombrero Galaxy): A striking edge-on spiral galaxy with a bright nucleus and dark dust lane.
    • Quasar 3C 273: One of the first quasars ever discovered, located within Virgo.

Mythological Background

In Greek mythology, Virgo is often associated with Astraea, the goddess of justice and innocence. During the Golden Age, Astraea lived among humans, but as humanity grew corrupt, she ascended to the heavens, becoming the constellation Virgo. She is sometimes depicted holding the scales of justice, represented by the neighboring constellation Libra.

Virgo is also linked to Demeter, the Greek goddess of agriculture, and her daughter Persephone. The constellation’s association with harvest and fertility connects it to these mythological figures.

Cultural Significance

Virgo has been a key constellation in agricultural societies, symbolizing the time for planting and harvesting crops. Its brightest star, Spica, was historically used to determine the timing of planting seasons, particularly in ancient Egyptian and Roman cultures.

Virgo Rise and Set Timetable

TimeElevation
Virgo Rise15:41
Moon Rise, 74.8% illuminated15:522°
Sunset20:5648°
Civil sunset21:3049°
Virgo Transit21:3850°
Astrosession begin22:1149°
Moon Set03:105°
Virgo Set03:35
Astrosession end04:50-14°

Track Virgo Position Throughout the Night

← Fri, 6 June 2025 →

Elevation (degrees)
Time
Altitude
Azimuth
Shift the map to change the time and observe Virgo changing position in the night sky.

Annual motion of Virgo

Time
DateFri, 6 June 2025
Twighlight start22:53
Twighlight end03:57
Twighlight duration5h 4m
Rise15:37
Set03:31
Elevation at transit50°
Transit time21:34
Equatorial coordinatesRA: 13h 05m 15s", Dec: 00° 32' 13s
Magnitude-
Constellation
The graph illustrates the annual visibility pattern of a Virgo, providing a comprehensive overview of its daily appearances and transit times throughout the year.
The graph is structured with the vertical axis showing the hours of the day, ranging from 12 AM to 12 AM the next day, while the horizontal axis spans each day of the year.
The reddish shaded area indicates the periods when the Virgo is above the horizon, visible to observers. The white line marks the times when the celestial object reaches its highest point in the sky each day, known as the transit.

Acknowledgements

We gratefully acknowledge the International Astronomical Union (IAU) for defining and standardizing the official constellation boundaries, which provide a consistent framework for celestial mapping.

Special thanks to Sky & Telescope Magazine and contributors Roger Sinnott and Rick Fienberg for their collaboration in producing the charts and tables. The constellation patterns, drawn by Alan MacRobert, were influenced by the work of H. A. Rey and thoughtfully adjusted to align with earlier traditions.