| Fixed star: ACULEUS | |
| Constellation: M6 Scorpius | |
| Longitude 1900: 24SAG20 | Longitude 2000: 25SAG44 |
| Declination 1900: – 32.09′ | Declination 2000: – 32.13′ |
| Right ascension: 17h 39m | Latitude: -08.50′ |
| Spectral class: C | Magnitude: 5.3 |
The history of the star: Aculeus
M6 Scorpius is an open cluster of stars above the stinger of the Scorpion. A companion cluster to M7, Acumen
Wikipediasays theButterfly Cluster(also known asM6orNGC 6405) is an open cluster of stars in the constellation of Scorpius. It is visually the closest Messier object (in angular distance) to the center of the galaxy inSagittarius
The Acadians called Scorpio, Girtab, the “Seizer”, or “Stinger”, and the Place where One Bows Down, titles indicative of the creature’s dangerous character (Allen 362); and referring to the striking curve of stars which lies in a dark portion of the Milky Way that forms the tail of the Scorpion, terminating in the poisonous upturned stinger, as if ready for an attack. [Star Names, p.362.]
Etymology
A resemblance [of Aculeus] to Achilles is probably not mere coincidence. The stinging SeRaPH (source of Serp-ent, meaning burning or venom) or SCORPION strikes in the AQeL, the HEEL, or Achilles heel of its foe. [Isaac Mozeson, author of The Word dictionary, Edenic (Biblical Hebrew), SPI books, ISBN 15671-942-0].
The astrological influences of the constellation Scorpius
Ptolemy makes the following observations: “The bright stars in the front of the body of Scorpio have an effect similar to that produced by the influence of Mars, and partly to that produced by Saturn: the three in the body itself . . . are similar to Mars and moderately to Jupiter: those in the joints of the tail are like Saturn and partly like Venus: those in the sting, like Mercury and Mars.” By the Kabalists Scorpio is associated with the Hebrew letter Oin and the 16th Tarot Trump “The Lightning-Struck Tower.” [Robson, p.60-61.]
The astrological influences of the constellation Scorpio given by Manilius:
“The Scorpion presides over arms” [Manilius, Astronomica, 1st century AD, book 4, p.253]
“By virtue of his tail armed with its powerful sting, wherewith, when conducting the Sun’s chariot through his sign, he cleaves the soil and sows seed in the furrow, the Scorpion creates natures ardent for war and active service, and a spirit which rejoices in plenteous bloodshed and in carnage more than in plunder. Why, these men spend even peace under arms; they fill the glades and scour the woods; they wage fierce warfare now against man, now against beast, and now they sell their persons to provide the spectacle of death and to perish in the arena, when, warfare in abeyance, they each find themselves foes to attack. There are those, too, who enjoy mock-fights and jousts in arms (such is their love of fighting) and devote their leisure to the study of war and every pursuit which arises from the art of war.” [Manilius, Astronomica, 1st century AD, p.239-240].
The astrological influences of the star Aculeus
Of the nature of Mars and the Moon. It effects the eyesight and causes blindness of one or both eyes if in conjunction with an afflicted luminary, or in conjunction with a malefic that afflicts the luminaries. The opposition seems to be equally effective. [Robson, p.117.]
This star along with Acumen has a notorious reputation in astrology as ‘blind stars’ or stars associated with eyesight problems. These stars shows up a negative Mars-Moon quality in people who have them poorly aspected, with a tendency towards a morbid outlook, seeing the worst rather than the best in everything. If their religious views are affected, as so often with anything in Sagittarius, there is a tendency to be either the ‘hellfire and damnation brigade’ or to take up a fierce anti-religious and even anti-God stance. But at their best, well aspected, they can have very sharp minds and a perception well above average as though, perhaps ‘blind’ to what we see and take for granted, they see what we do not, at levels where eyesight does not reach. Not for nothing has the word Acumen come down to us as a term for a sharp mind. [The Living Stars, Dr. Eric Morse, p.86-87.]
References:
Fixed Stars and Constellations in Astrology, Vivian E. Robson, 1923].