Virgo, the second-largest constellation in the night sky and one of the 12 zodiac constellations, holds a significant place along the ecliptic—the apparent path of the Sun across the sky. Virgo is visible from both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, making it observed during the spring months in the Northern Hemisphere and the autumn months in the Southern Hemisphere

Stars

Virgo boasts several bright stars, with Spica (Alpha Virginis) being the most prominent. Spica is a binary star system and stands out in the night sky as the brightest star within the constellation.

History

In Greek mythology, Virgo is often linked to the goddess of justice, Dike, or the harvest goddess Demeter. Sometimes Virgo is identified as Astraea, the goddess of innocence and purity.

Galaxies

The constellation is renowned for its abundance of galaxies, particularly the Virgo Cluster—a vast collection of galaxies featuring Messier objects such as Messier 49, Messier 58, Messier 59, and Messier 60. The Virgo Cluster is part of the larger Virgo Supercluster, which includes our own Milky Way galaxy.