Spica, brightest star in the constellation Virgo; Bayer designation Alpha Virginis; 1992 position R.A. 13^h24.8^m, Dec. -11°07'. A bluish-white star of spectral class B1 V, its apparent magnitude averages about 0.96, making it one of the 20 brightest stars in the sky. Because it is an eclipsing binary star, the magnitude ranges from 0.91 to 1.01 as the two components orbit about each other within a four-day period. Spica is at a distance of about 200 light-years. Its name is Latin for "ear of grain," referring to an ear of grain held by the figure traditionally associated with the constellation Virgo.

Spica (also known as α Vir / α Virginis / Alpha Virginis) is the brightest star in the constellation Virgo, and the 15th brightest star in the nighttime sky. It is 260 light years distant from Earth. A blue giant, it is a variable of the Beta Cephei type.

Observation history

Spica is believed to be the star that provided Hipparchus with the data which enabled him to discover precession of the equinoxes. A temple to Menat (an early Hathor) at Thebes was oriented with reference to Spica when it was constructed in 3200 BC and, over time, precession resulted in a slow but noticeable change in the location of Spica relative to the temple. Nicolaus Copernicus made many observations of Spica with his home-made triquetrum for his researches on precession.

Characteristics

Spica is the brightest of the rotating ellipsoidal variables. Its apparent magnitude varies between +0.92 and +1.04, with a period of 4.0142 days. This slight dip in magnitude is barely noticeable visually. It is also a variable of the Beta Cephei type. Spica has a luminosity about 2,300 times that of the Sun.

Visibility

Located close to the ecliptic, Spica can be occulted by the Moon and sometimes by the planets. The last planetary occultation of Spica occurred when Venus passed in front of the star (as seen from Earth) on November 10, 1783. The next occultation will occur September 2, 2197, when Venus again passes in front of Spica. The Sun passes a little more than 2º north of Spica around October 16 every year.

An easy way to find Spica is to follow the arc of the handle of the Big Dipper to Arcturus, and then continue on the same distance to Spica ("follow the arc to Arcturus and speed on to Spica").

Etymology and cultural significance

The name Spica derives from Latin spīca virginis "Virgo's ear of grain" (usually wheat). In Chinese astronomy, the star is known as Jiao Xiu 1 (角宿一) in Jiao Xiu, one of the Chinese constellations. In Hindu astronomy, Spica corresponds to the Nakshatra Chitra.

Medieval names include Azimech, from Arabic as-simak al-a'zal "the Undefended", and Alarph, Arabic for "the Grape Gatherer".

In medieval astrology, it was a Behenian fixed star, associated with the emerald and sage. In his De Occulta Philosophia, Cornelius Agrippa attributes its kabbalistic symbol to Hermes Trismegistus.

Spica was used in the novel Pushing Ice by Alastair Reynolds as the distant star to which the protagonists are carried by alien technology

External links

• Spika, the first Slovene astronomical magazine, edited by Bojan Kambič and published since 1995
• Tables of past and future eclipses of bright stars by the inner planets
• Eclipses of bright stars by planets, 3000 BC to 3000 AD
• Bright Star Catalogue

References

• http://www.space.com/spacewatch/spica_virgo_040611.html