Antares (α
Scorpii) is a
star. Its name derives from the
Greek words meaning "similar to
Ares" or "rival of Ares," probably due to the similarity of its
reddish hue to the appearance of the planet
Mars. This distinctive
coloration has made the star an object of interest to many societies througout history, and many of the old
Egyptian temples are oriented so that the light of Antares plays a role in the ceremonies performed there. Antares was one of the four "royal stars" of the
Persians around 3000 BC, and some writers claim that it is the "lance star" referred to in the
Biblical book of
Job.
Antares is an M-class giant star, with a diameter of approximately 6.24 × 108 km, or slightly more than the distance as from Sun to Mars. It has a very low density.
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