Antares (α Scorpii) Každom-del, Qalb-ol-Aqrab Fr.: Antarès A → red supergiant star (→ spectral type M1 Ib) in the constellation → Scorpius, lying about 500 → light-years (170 (+35/-25) → parsecs) from Earth. It has a dwarf massive companion (B3 V), which is a → radio source. Antares, in Gk. "rival of Mars," from Gk. → anti + Ares "the Gk. god of War, called Mars by the Romans." The comparison with the planet Mars is because they are both red in color and have the same brightness. Každom-del "the heart of the Scorpion," from každom "scorpion" + del, → heart. Qalb-ol-'Aqrab "the heart of the Scorpion," from Ar. Qalb "heart" + 'aqrab "scorpion". |