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What's in a Name: | Greek for "Rival of Mars" (Ares is Greek for Mars). Sometimes Antares is mistaken for Mars when they are close together because both are red.
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| Claim to Fame: | Brightest star in the constellation Scorpio, the Scorpion. 16th brightest star in the sky (apparent visual magnitude = 0.9)
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| Type of Star: | Red Supergiant (M1 Ib Spectral Class)
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| How Far Away: | 325 light years away
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| How Big: | 300 times as big as the sun (More than twice the diameter of the Earth's orbit).
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| How Bright: | 3000 times the sun's luminosity (Mv = -4.5)
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| Where to View: | In the constellation Scorpio, the Scorpion (Star Map).
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| When to View: | July through August from Northern middle latitudes
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