1. S PICA By Sarah & Natalie

2. C HARACTERISTICS : C OLOR AND T EMPERATURE Spica is currently a blue giant, and its color is white. Its surface can reach a maximum of ____ degrees, while the core is usually ________ degrees.

3. C HARACTERISTICS : S IZE Spica’s diameter is ______, and it has _______ of mass.

4. C HARACTERISTICS : C HEMICAL C OMPOSITION Spica’s composition is mainly helium.

5. C HARACTERISTICS : B RIGHTNESS Spica has a luminosity about 2,300 times that of the Sun.

6. C HARACTERISTICS : D ISTANCE F ROM S UN

7. H-R D IAGRAM

8. C ONSTELLATION : Spica is part of the constellation Virgo. There are many stories behind it, and several follow: Virgo means virgin, and was commonly identified with the goddess Astraea or Dike in Greek mythology. In another Greek legend she is Persephone, daughter of the goddess of the harvest Ceres. In Asyrria, Virgo was believed to be the wife of Bel. In Bablylonian lands Virgo was Ishtar, Queen of the Stars. In India Virgo was identified with Kanya, the maiden and mother of Krishna. Medieval Christians saw Virgo as the Madonna, or as Ruth of the fields. In Roman times Virgo was the Goddess Pax with her olive branch. Virgo has been identified with the Saxon goddess Eoestre or Eostre. Virgo has also been honored as Diana, Minerva, Athena, and occasionally as Urania, muse of astronomy.

9. L IFE C YCLE Spica is currently a blue giant. This is a supergiant. It was once part of a nebula. It then turned into a high-mass star. It is currently (as stated above) a supergiant. Eventually it will become a supernova. Then it will become either a Neutron star or a black hole.

10. S OURCES http://stars5.netfirms.com/hertzsprune.gif http://www.souledout.org/cosmology/highlights/sp icahighlights/spicahighlights.html