The name stems from the Ancient Greek term for "anti-Ares", since its reddish hue and location near the ecliptic make it visually similar to the planet Mars.

Located near the center of the constellation, this pulsating star is historically known as Cor Scorpii, which translates from Latin to the heart of the scorpion.

As a massive red supergiant, Antares is so immense that its surface would extend roughly past the orbit of Mars, completely swallowing Earth in the process.

The companion star, Antares B, is actually a hot blue-white star. The stark color contrast with the primary red supergiant tricks the human eye into seeing it as green.