Optical photograph of the red supergiant star Antares (centre), with the M4 globular star cluster (also known as NGC 6121) to its right. Antares is the brightest star in the constellation of Scorpius. It is a first magnitude, distinctly red star whose naked eye appearance is similar to that of Mars - hence its name, which means 'Rival to Mars'. Antares is both a binary star (orbiting an unseen close companion) & a variable one (its brightness varying by about one magnitude in an irregular manner over an average period of 1733 days). 5.5' Schmidt, 8 min. exposure, 28 May 1979.

Photo website with Rights Managed and Royalty Free stock photos, images, illustrations and footage available for download immediately for commercial and editorial uses. Aflo is a leading independent supplier and producer of stock pictures and visual content. Search and find high quality images and video for design, print, web-use and publishing. Buy photos from our extensive collection of model released and property released sports images. Search some of the most beautiful travel and landscape pictures from our own photographers and license from our large collection of content, modern and archive, focusing on Japan. We provide free research. Register for personal account management and for full use of our Stock Photography website and start to download images now.