How to Find Scorpius

If you can find Sagittarius, you can find Scorpius. Like Sagittarius, Scorpius is low in the southern sky and is just to the west (right) of Sagittarius. Its brightest stars look somewhat like a scorpion. Or perhaps you can think of it as a skewed letter J or a giant letter S or even a fish hook.

This is what it looks like next to the teapot asterism in Sagittarius.


This is close-up view of it.


Note the orange star near the upper end of Scorpius. It is the brightest star in the constellation and is therefore given the alpha designation, i.e., Alpha Scorpii. The star is better known, however, as Antares, meaning rival of Ares (Mars). Antares is the 16th brightest star in the sky.

Also note that the farther north you live, the less likely you are to see the bottom part of Scorpius.

References:

Fishhook? Snake? Letter "J"? It's Scorpius the Scorpion!
The Brightest Stars