#sh2-9

[quiltofstars]

Alniyat (σ Scorpii) and Sh2-9 // Nico Gärtner & Carpe-Noctem-Rooisand-Team

Alniyat (σ Scorpii) is a quadruple star system about 570 light years from Earth. The largest member star is a blue-white giant about 18 times more massive and 13 times larger than the Sun. The name comes from the Arabic word al-niyāţ meaning "the arteries."

[quiltofstars]

The ρ Ophiuchi Cloud Complex // Patrick Freeman

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Sh2-9 and Alniyat (σ Scorpii, left) and the Spider Globular Cluster (M4, right) // Michel

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Sh2-9, surrounding the star Alniyat (σ Scorpii) // Reggie Jones

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The ρ Ophiuchi cloud complex // gregengland

A few noted objects are: ρ Ophiuchi at the center of IC 4604 (left), IC 4605 (blue region at bottom), Alniyat (σ Scorpii) in the reddish Sh2-9 (top), Antares (α Scorpii) in the yellowish region, and M4 at the upper right.

[quiltofstars]

The Rho Ophiuchi cloud complex // Ef_KO

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Sh2-9, being illuminated by Alniyat (σ Scorpii), and M4 (top left) // Magellan_Team

[rin-senya]

Rho Ophiuchus with Antares and M4 by VisualUniverse on Flickr.