Scorpius. Optical image of the constellation of Scorpius (the Scorpion) backdropped against the star clouds of the Milky Way. The mythological tail of Scorpius begins at the two bright, close stars at lower centre. The tail curves around to the area known as the Table of Scorpius (lower left). The Table contains a white star cluster and a red cloud of interstellar gas (nebula). The body stretches from the Table to Antares (upper right), the brightest star in Scorpius and the heart of the Scorpion. Several bright stars above Antares form the head of the Scorpion. The constellation once also had claws, but these now form part of the constellation of Libra.