Virgo is one of the largest and most prominent constellations in the night sky. Sprawling across 1,294 square degrees, it is the second largest constellation after Hydra. As one of the 12 zodiac constellations, Virgo is located on the ecliptic and so features prominently in astrology and mythology around the world. With such a large area, Virgo contains many bright stars visible to the naked eye. But which are the 3 brightest?
The Brightest Star in Virgo – Spica
The brightest star in Virgo by a large margin is Spica. At magnitude +1.05, it outshines even Arcturus, the 4th brightest star in the entire night sky. Spica is located about 260 light years from Earth. It is classified as a B1 III-IV blue giant star, indicating that it is in the process of evolving from a main sequence star into a red giant.
With about 11 times the mass of the Sun and 7 times the radius, Spica is one of the largest and most luminous stars visible to the naked eye. It shines with the light of over 22,000 Suns! Such a high luminosity indicates that nuclear fusion reactions in its core are proceeding at a tremendous rate as the star continues to burn through its hydrogen fuel.
The name Spica comes from Latin and means ‘ear of wheat’, representing the wheat that the goddess Virgo holds in depictions of the constellation. Spica has had many other traditional names across cultures, including Azimech, Arista and Alaraph.
Key Facts
- Constellation: Virgo
- Right ascension: 13h 25m 11.57s
- Declination: -11° 09′ 41.3″
- Distance: 260 light years
- Spectral type: B1 III-IVe
- Apparent magnitude: +1.05
- Absolute magnitude: -3.55
- Mass: 11.43 solar masses
- Radius: 7 solar radii
- Luminosity: 22,400 solar luminosities
The Second Brightest Star in Virgo – Beta Virginis
The second brightest star in Virgo is Beta Virginis, also known as Zavijava. At magnitude +3.6, it is over 150 times fainter than Spica but still distinctly bright to the naked eye. Zavijava is located about 36 light years from Earth.
Zavijava is classified as F9 V, indicating it is a main sequence star fusing hydrogen in its core. With about 1.7 times the mass and radius of the Sun, it shines with over 6 times the luminosity. Models suggest Zavijava is about 4 billion years old, making it slightly younger than our Sun.
The proper name Zavijava comes from the Arabic Al Zawiya, meaning ‘corner’. As the beta star of Virgo, it also bore the traditional name of Alaraph from the Arabic phrase for ‘the grape collector’.
Key Facts
- Constellation: Virgo
- Right ascension: 12h 10m 22.311s
- Declination: +01° 41′ 18.96″
- Distance: 36 light years
- Spectral type: F9 V
- Apparent magnitude: +3.6
- Absolute magnitude: +3.23
- Mass: 1.7 solar masses
- Radius: 1.7 solar radii
- Luminosity: 6.1 solar luminosities
The Third Brightest Star in Virgo – Gamma Virginis
The third brightest star in Virgo is Gamma Virginis, also known as Porrima. With an apparent magnitude of +2.74, Porrima outshines all other stars in Virgo besides Spica and Zavijava. It lies about 38 light years from Earth.
Porrima is a binary star system, consisting of two almost identical stars orbiting each other closely. The two components are classified as F0 V, showing they are main sequence stars just beginning to evolve off the main sequence. Each component has about 1.7 times the Sun’s mass and radius, and shines with approximately 7 times the luminosity.
The name Porrima comes from the Roman goddess of prophecy Prorsa. As the gamma star of Virgo, it has also been known by traditional names such as Postvorta, Minelava and Vinda.
Key Facts
- Constellation: Virgo
- Right ascension: 12h 41m 39.905s
- Declination: -01° 24′ 58.79″
- Distance: 38 light years
- Spectral types: F0 V + F0 V
- Apparent magnitude: +2.74
- Absolute magnitude: +2.88
- Mass: 1.7 solar masses (each component)
- Radius: 1.7 solar radii (each component)
- Luminosity: 7 solar luminosities (each component)
Honorable Mentions
Besides the top 3, Virgo contains many more bright stars visible to the naked eye:
- Epsilon Virginis – Also known as Vindemiatrix, it shines at magnitude +2.82, making it the 4th brightest in Virgo.
- Eta Virginis – With a magnitude of +3.38, it is ranked 5th in brightness.
- Delta Virginis – At magnitude +3.36, it narrowly edges out Eta Virginis as the 6th brightest.
- Theta Virginis – Shining at magnitude +4.38, it rounds out the top 10 brightest stars.
Virgo also contains a number of prominent deep sky objects, including the galaxies Messier 49, Messier 58, Messier 60, and more.
Comparison Table
Here is a table comparing the top 3 brightest stars in Virgo:
| Star | Apparent Magnitude | Distance (light years) | Spectral Type | Mass (Solar Masses) | Luminosity (Solar Luminosities) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spica | +1.05 | 260 | B1 III-IVe | 11.43 | 22,400 |
| Zavijava | +3.6 | 36 | F9 V | 1.7 | 6.1 |
| Porrima | +2.74 | 38 | F0 V + F0 V | 1.7 (each component) | 7 (each component) |
Location in the Night Sky
Virgo is located in the southern celestial hemisphere. It is bordered by the constellations Coma Berenices to the north, Leo to the east, Hydra to the south, and Libra to the west.
The brightest stars of Virgo form a distinct ‘Y’ shape, with Spica located at the base of the ‘Y’. To locate Virgo, find the bright orange star Arcturus high in the eastern sky after sunset in early spring. Follow the curve of the Big Dipper’s handle arc downwards, and continue about 25 degrees to arrive at Spica and the constellation Virgo.
Zavijava marks the left corner of the ‘Y’ shape, while Porrima marks the right corner. They are readily found by extending the lines from Spica. Use the finder chart below to help pinpoint the exact location of the 3 brightest stars in Virgo.
Virgo Finder Chart
Image credit: IAU/Sky & Telescope magazine
Observing the Brightest Stars of Virgo
The brightest stars of Virgo are readily visible from most inhabited locations on Earth. They can be observed from late March to late June. Here are some tips for getting the best views:
- Find an observing location well away from light pollution, like a dark rural site.
- Allow time for your eyes to become dark adapted – at least 15 minutes.
- Use averted vision to spot fainter stars in peripheral vision.
- Try using binoculars or a low power telescope to see more stars and detail.
- Photograph the region with a tripod-mounted camera using long exposures.
While all three stars can be seen with the naked eye, using binoculars or a telescope offers much more detail. Spica can be split into its binary pair, while Porrima’s dual stars orbit each other closely every 168 years.
Significance of the Bright Stars
The bright stars of Virgo have been known since ancient times and used for both navigation and astrology. Cultures around the world incorporated them into mythological stories about goddesses linked to fertility and agriculture, including Ishtar, Demeter, Ceres and Shing Moo.
Spica forms part of the ancient Arabic lunar mansions, representing one of the stations for measuring the monthly progress of the Moon across the sky. It also served as a guide star for the annual flooding of the Nile in Egypt.
Today, Spica serves as one of the 15 Behenian stars used in astrology. Zavijava and Porrima also have astrological significance according to some traditions. All three stars remain important navigation markers for amateur astronomers and stargazers.
Conclusion
The three brightest stars in Virgo are Spica, Zavijava and Porrima. Of these, Spica overwhelmingly dominates at magnitude +1.05, outshining all other stars in the constellation.
Spica, Zavijava and Porrima form a distinctive ‘Y’ shape along with other bright Virgo stars. They can readily be observed from late March to late June when Virgo is highest in the southern sky after sunset. With a dark sky location and simple visual aids like binoculars, you can easily compare the majestic bright stars that make up this prominent constellation.