Virgo constellation: how to find it, when to see it and what is in it
In short
Virgo (Vir) is a equatorial constellation covering 1,294 square degrees, number 2 of 88 by size. Its brightest star is Spica, a blue-white giant, magnitude 1.0. It is best seen in the evening in May. Over London it rises and sets and is well placed in its season. Its neighbours in the sky: Boötes, Coma Berenices, Crater, Corvus, Hydra, Leo, Libra, Serpens.
Area: 1,294 square degrees, 2 of 88 · Neighbours: Boötes, Coma Berenices, Crater, Corvus, Hydra, Leo, Libra, Serpens · Updated 10 October 2026
How to find Virgo
- 1
When to look
The best time is in May in the evening: in the south, around 22:54.
- 2
Use the neighbours
Find it from the neighbouring constellations: Boötes, Coma Berenices, Crater, Corvus.
- 3
Brightest stars
The brightest stars of the figure: Spica (1.0ᵐ), Vindemiatrix (2.8ᵐ), Heze (3.4ᵐ).
When it is visible over London
| Month | Where and when | Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| January — february | in the south, around 05:41 | before dawn |
| March — april | in the south, around 02:02 | around midnight |
| May | in the south, around 22:54 | in the evening |
| June | in the southwest, around 23:21 | in the evening |
| July | in the southwest, around 23:00 | low, needs an open horizon |
| August — october | — | not visible, behind the Sun |
| November | in the southeast, around 05:58 | low, needs an open horizon |
| December | in the southeast, around 06:29 | before dawn |
Stars of the constellation
| Star | What it is | Magnitude |
|---|---|---|
| Spica · α Vir | blue-white giant | 1.0ᵐ |
| Vindemiatrix · ε Vir | yellow giant | 2.8ᵐ |
| Heze · ζ Vir | white main-sequence star | 3.4ᵐ |
| Minelauva · δ Vir | red giant | 3.4ᵐ |
| Porrima · γ Vir | yellow-white main-sequence star | 3.7ᵐ |
| Maenalus · 109 Vir | white main-sequence star | 3.7ᵐ |
| μ Vir | yellow-white giant | 3.9ᵐ |
| ν Vir | red giant | 4.0ᵐ |
Virgo FAQ
When is the best time to see Virgo?
Where is Virgo in the sky?
What is the brightest star in Virgo?
Neighbouring and other constellations
Related
Constellation lines: Stellarium, CC BY-SA · star names: IAU WGSN, CC BY 4.0