Antares (also known as Alpha Scorpii, α Sco) is the brightest star in the constellation of Scorpius. It is located approximately 550 light-years away from the Sun. Antares is a red supergiant star, and its name comes from the Greek word meaning “rival of Mars.” Despite its brightness, it is not as well-known as Mars, but it remains a fascinating celestial object in our night sky.