Constellation Serpent-bearer (Ophiuchus)
Serpent-bearer is one of the 88 constellations that carve up the sky. It sits along the celestial equator and rides highest overhead around June.
Bright stars in Serpent-bearer
| Name | Bayer | Magnitude | Type | Distance (ly) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rasalhague | alpha Oph | 2.08 | A5III | 47.0 |
| Sabik | eta Oph | 2.43 | A2V | 84.0 |
| Cebalrai | beta Oph | 2.76 | K2III | 81.8 |
About the constellation
The constellation Serpent-bearer (Latin Ophiuchus) lies along the celestial equator. It passes highest around midnight in June, so the weeks around then are the easiest time to track it down. Its brightest star is Rasalhague, at magnitude 2.1, best seen under a reasonably dark sky. From most of the southern hemisphere it climbs into view at some point in the year. Astronomers label its stars with the genitive form Ophiuchi, as in "Alpha Ophiuchi".
Other constellations
And Ant Aps Aql Aqr Ara Ari Aur Boo Cae Cam Cnc CVn CMa CMi Cap Car Cas Cen Cep Cet Cha Cir Col Com CrA CrB Crv Crt Cru Cyg Del Dor Dra Equ Eri For Gem Gru Her Hor Hya Hyi Ind Lac Leo LMi Lep Lib Lup Lyn Lyr Men Mic Mon Mus Nor Oct Ori Pav Peg Per Phe Pic Psc PsA Pup Pyx Ret Sge Sgr Sco Scl Sct Ser Sex Tau Tel Tri TrA Tuc UMa UMi Vel Vir Vol Vul