In Greek myth the constellation Virgo is associated with Persephone, daughter of Zeus (Jupiter), king of the gods, and Demeter (Ceres), the goddess of agriculture. The story tells of Hades (Pluto) being so captivated by the virginal beauty of Persephone that he abducted her, and carried her off to the underworld to be his wife. Her mother, Demeter was so upset by this, she completely neglected her duties as goddess of agriculture, and famine spread over the entire Earth. Naturally, Zeus could not let this stand, and decreed that Persephone should leave the underworld and be with her mother for half the year, from March until August. This is the time of year her image appears in the sky, and Demeter does her duty, and crops are sown, cultivated, and harvested. When Virgo leaves the sky, and descends back into the underworld, Demeter again abandons her duties, and the earth lies fallow until the virgin reappears in the spring.

Reclining on her side, Virgo stretches across the southern sky, the second largest constellation in the heavens. To identify Virgo, find the bright white star Spica, the alpha star in the constellation Virgo, and the fifteenth brightest star in the sky. Then step back, and let your eyes and your imagination slowly take in the entire form of the reclining maiden, filling the southern sky. Not bad, eh? But you've only just begun... for the virgin holds in her arms a large group of galaxies, known as the Virgo Cluster. Some of the brightest of these galaxies visible in backyard telescopes, are pictured below.

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