Ophiuchus, the Serpent Bearer (Oph)

(OFF-ee-YOO-kus)

The Southern constellation of Ophiuchus, the Serpent Bearer, is best viewed in Summer during the month of July.

Ophiuchus is the 11th largest constellation. It's brightest star is Rasalhague at magnitude 2.08. The boundary of the Ophiuchus constellation contains 19 stars that host known exoplanets.

Ophiuchus is an equatorial constellation, which means its bulk intersects the celestial equator or comes within 10-15 degrees of doing so. Ophiuchus is visible from most places on Earth.

Barnard's Star is the 2nd closest star to Earth at 5.96 light years.

1. Pronunciation:
2. OFF-ee-YOO-kus

1. Meaning:
2. Serpent Bearer

1. Genitive:
2. Ophiuchi

1. Abbreviation:
2. Oph

1. Constellation Family:
2. Hercules

1. Hemisphere:
2. Southern

1. Quadrant:
2. SQ3

1. Visibility:
2. 80° N - 80° S

1. Best viewing month*:
2. July

1. Area:
2. 948 sq. degrees

1. Size:
2. 11th largest

1. Equatorial:
2. Yes

1. Right Ascension (avg):
2. 17h 2m

1. Declination (avg):
2. -5°

1. Brightest star:
2. Rasalhague (2.08)

1. Stars with planets:
2. 19

1. Messier objects:
2. |

1. Caldwell objects:
2. |

Brightest Stars in Ophiuchus

The 10 brightest stars in the constellation Ophiuchus by magnitude.

1. Star
2. Magnitude
3. Spectral class

1. Alpha Ophiuchi (α Oph)
2. 2.08
3. A5III

1. Eta Ophiuchi (η Oph)
2. 2.43
3. A2.5Va

1. Zeta Ophiuchi (ζ Oph)
2. 2.54
3. O9.5V

1. Delta Ophiuchi (δ Oph)
2. 2.73
3. M1III

1. Beta Ophiuchi (β Oph)
2. 2.76
3. K2III

1. Kappa Ophiuchi (κ Oph)
2. 3.19
3. K2IIIvar

1. Epsilon Ophiuchi (ε Oph)
2. 3.23
3. G8III

1. Theta Ophiuchi (θ Oph)
2. 3.27
3. B2IV

1. Nu Ophiuchi (ν Oph)
2. 3.32
3. K0III

1. 72 Ophiuchi (72 Oph)
2. 3.71
3. A4IVs

Double Stars in Ophiuchus

These are the brightest and easiest-to-find double, triple, and quadruple star systems in the constellation Ophiuchus . Also see all star clusters.

1. Star system
2. Magnitudes
3. Type

1. 36 Ophiuchi
2. 5.1, 5.1
3. double

1. Omicron Ophiuchi
2. 5.2, 6.6
3. double

1. 70 Ophiuchi
2. 4.2, 6.2
3. double

Star Clusters in Ophiuchus

The most notable and easy-to-find star clusters in the constellation Ophiuchus . Also see all star clusters.

1. Star cluster
2. Catalog #
3. Cluster type

1. GCl 50
3. globular

1. IC 4665
3. open

1. Messier 10
2. M10
3. globular

1. Messier 107
2. M107
3. globular

1. Messier 12
2. M12
3. globular

1. Messier 14
2. M14
3. globular

1. Messier 19
2. M19
3. globular

1. Messier 62
2. M62
3. globular

1. Messier 9
2. M9
3. globular

1. NGC 6235
3. globular

1. NGC 6284
3. globular

1. NGC 6287
3. globular

1. NGC 6293
3. globular

1. NGC 6304
3. globular

1. NGC 6316
3. globular

1. NGC 6325
3. globular

1. NGC 6342
3. globular

1. NGC 6355
3. globular

1. NGC 6356
3. globular

1. NGC 6366
3. globular

1. NGC 6401
3. globular

1. NGC 6426
3. globular

1. NGC 6517
3. globular

1. NGC 6633
3. open

1. Palomar 6
3. globular

Nebulae in Ophiuchus

Notable and easy-to-find nebulae in the constellation Ophiuchus . Also see all nebulae.

1. Nebula name
2. Catalog #
3. Nebula type

1. Blue Racquetball Nebula
3. planetary

1. Box Nebula
3. planetary

1. Dark Horse Nebula
3. dark

1. Double Helix Nebula
3. emission

1. Kepler's Supernova
3. supernova remnant

1. Little Ghost Nebula
3. planetary

1. Pipe Nebula
3. dark

1. Snake Nebula
3. dark

1. Twin Jet Nebula
3. planetary

1. Rho Ophiuchi Cloud
3. molecular cloud

Galaxies in Ophiuchus

The most notable galaxies in the constellation Ophiuchus. Also see all galaxies.

1. Name
2. Alt name
3. Type

Black Holes in Ophiuchus

These are the most well-known smaller (non-supermassive) black holes in the constellation Ophiuchus. Although black holes cannot be seen directly, the smaller ones are at the center of some star clusters and supernova remnant nebulae, which can be seen. Supermassive black holes are at the center of most galaxies, such as Sagittarius A* at the center of our Milky Way galaxy. Also see all black holes.

1. Black hole
3. Type

1. Great Annihilator
3. intermediate

The Cosmic Serpent-Bearer

Ophiuchus, Latin for 'Serpent-Bearer', is a large and notable constellation located around the celestial equator. The constellation is best known for its unique shape, which is reminiscent of a man holding a snake, and for its location along the ecliptic path, making it one of the 13 constellations that the Sun passes through during the year.

Historical Overview

Ophiuchus is associated with various figures from ancient myths, often healers or physicians, due to the association of serpents with healing. The most common association is with Asclepius, the Greek god of medicine and healing. According to legend, Asclepius learned the secrets of life and death from a snake, a creature considered sacred and a symbol of regeneration.

Location and Main Features

Found in the third quadrant of the Northern Hemisphere (NQ3), Ophiuchus can be seen at latitudes between +80? and -80?. It is surrounded by Serpens to the west, Hercules to the north, Scorpius to the south, and Sagittarius to the east. With an area of 948 square degrees, it ranks 11th in terms of size among the 88 recognized constellations.

Main Stars in Ophiuchus

Ophiuchus is home to many bright stars, the most notable of which is Rasalhague (? Ophiuchi), a binary star system with an apparent magnitude of 2.07, making it the brightest star in Ophiuchus. The primary component of Rasalhague is a rapidly rotating white giant star, while the secondary component is a faint dwarf star.

Besides Rasalhague, the constellation also contains several other notable stars, such as Cebalrai (Beta Ophiuchi), a giant orange star, and Sabik (Eta Ophiuchi), a white star known for its relatively high rotation speed.

Deep Sky Objects

Ophiuchus contains a rich assortment of deep sky objects, including several globular clusters like Messier 9, Messier 10, Messier 12, and Messier 14. It also contains the Dark Horse Nebula, a large and complex area of dark nebulosity.

Observation

Being located along the ecliptic path, Ophiuchus is a prominent constellation that can be viewed from most locations on Earth, particularly between April and October. Despite this, it is often overlooked due to its proximity to the constellation Scorpius, which contains Antares, one of the brightest stars in the night sky.

* Constellation shown for northen hemisphere skies. For the southern hemisphere, constellations appear rotated 180 degrees (upside-down and left-right reversed) from what is shown. Remember that seasons are reversed too - summer in northern latitudes is winter in southern latitudes.

** Circumpolar constellations are visible year-round in the hemisphere listed (and not at all in the opposite hemisphere).