- In ancient Greek times, the area of sky we know as Libra was occupied by the claws of the scorpion, Scorpius. Aratus and Eratosthenes, among others, called this area Χηλαί (Chelae), literally meaning ‘claws’, an identification that lives on in the names of the individual stars of Libra (see below). As things have worked out, Libra is now a slightly larger constellation than Scorpius, but is much less conspicuous.
passage through the ecliptic
- Star Tales - Scorpius (ianridpath.com)
‘There is a certain place where the scorpion with his tail and curving claws sprawls across two signs of the zodiac’, wrote Ovid in his Metamorphoses. He was referring to the ancient Greek version of Scorpius, which was much larger than the constellation we know today. The Greek scorpion was in two halves: one half, called Σκορπίος (Skorpios), contained its body and sting, while the front half comprised the claws. The Greeks called this front half Χηλαί (Chelae), which means ‘claws’. In the first century BC the Romans made the claws into a separate constellation, Libra, the balance.
- Tahoma Forest Natural Resources Conservation Area (dnr.wa.gov)
This 230-acre conservation area within the Tahoma State Forest protects mature, structurally complex forest and contributes to habitat connectivity for northern spotted owls within the surrounding landscape. The conservation area includes mid-elevation old-growth forest communities ranging from 100 to well over 200 years of age. Douglas fir and western hemlock dominate the forest overstory, but silver fir and noble fir are also common. The forest understory includes species such as beargrass, red huckleberry, Pacific rhododendron, vanilla leaf, cutleaf goldthread and queencup beadlily.