The Serpent Bearer
| Abbreviation: | Oph |
| Genitive: | Ophiuchi |
| Origin: | [antiquity] |
| Fully Visible: | 75°S – 59°N |
In Greek mythology, this figure represents the healer Asclepius who was the a son of the god Apollo. Asclepius was a healer and the Greek god of medicine. Even today, the snake-entwined staff - the rod of Asclepius - is the symbol of the medical arts. After his death, Asclepius was raised into the heavens as the constellation Ophiuchus where he is depicted holding a snake.
The obsolete constellation Taurus Poniatovii looks over the shoulder of Ophiuchus marked by the star Cebalrai.
Ophiuchus is one of thirteen constellations crossed by the ecliptic, the other twelve being the signs of the zodiac. For this reason, the Sun spends part of the year out of the zodiacal constellations and within the boundaries of Ophiuchus.
Notable Features
| Visible Named Stars | ||
|---|---|---|
| α Oph | Rasalhague | In Chinese astronomy, this star is known as Hou, from Hòu meaning 'the astrologer'. |
| β Oph | Cebalrai | This star sometimes appears as Cheleb in older star atlases and catalogues. |
| δ Oph | Yed Prior | In Chinese astronomy, this star is known as Liang, from Liáng which was an ancient Chinese state. |
| ε Oph | Yed Posterior | In Chinese astronomy, this star is known as Chu, from Chŭ which was an ancient Chinese state. |
| η Oph | Sabik | In Chinese astronomy, this star is known as Song, from Sòng which was an ancient Chinese state. |
| λ Oph | Marfik | This fourth-magnitude star is actually a system of three gravitationally-bound stars. |
| 36 Oph | Guniibuu | The name of this star originates with the Kamilaroi and Euahlayi people of Australia. |
| Other Interesting Stars | ||
| V2500 Oph | Barnard's Star | At a distance of just under 6 light years, Barnard's Star is the second-closest star system to the Sun. Despite its proximity, however, it cannot be seen with the naked eye. |
| HD 148427 | Timir | This seventh-magnitude star is known to have at least one exoplanet and is located near the globular cluster M107. |
| HD 149143 | Rosalíadecastro | This eighth-magnitude star is known to have at least one exoplanet. It is found just south of M107. |
| HD 152581 | Mahsati | Located north of ι Oph, this eighth-magnitude star is known to have at least one exoplanet. |
| Deep Sky Objects | ||
| M9 | One of the closer globular cluster, this object can be resolved into individual stars with a medium-size telescope. | |
| M10 | This globular cluster is even closer and brighter than M9. | |
| M12 | Binoculars are necessary to see this globular cluster. | |
| M14 | This globular cluster is also easily accessible with binoculars although a telescope will be necessary to resolve individual stars. | |
| M19 | Optical aids are also required for this seventh magnitude globular cluster. | |
| M62 | Another seventh magnitude globular cluster, this object contains a high number of variable stars. | |
| M107 | A telescope is necessary to see this faint, loose globular cluster. | |
Copyright © 1995–2023 by L.M. Stockman and David Harper