Name a Star in the Ophiucus Constellation
Modified: July 1, 2023 Author: International Star Registry

Ophiuchus, the Serpent Bearer, covers a large area on the elliptical path of the sun. It is the only constellation not universally identified as a zodiac sign that does this. It is situated prominently between Libra and Scorpius. Some people would like to make Ophiuchus the 13th sign of the zodiac, but the original 12 have a long tradition and history. Another unique quality of Ophiuchus is that it bisects the snake constellation, Serpens. The resulting halves are known as Serpens Caput (the tail), and Serpens Cauda (The head).
The Alpha star of Ophiuchus is “Ras Alhague”, in Arabic meaning the “head of the snake charmer”. Barnard’s star is the fourth closest star to our sun and is only about 6 light years away. It is a 9.54 magnitude red dwarf star. The Ophiuchus constellation should be visible from Greenland to the northern edge of Antarctica, or 80°N – 80°S. Visibility is shortened in the far north due to the summer evening sun. Constellations sharing a border with Ophiuchus are Aquila, Hercules, Libra, Sagittarius, Scorpius, and Serpens.
Symbol: Oph
Right Ascension: 05:14
Declination: -4
Diameter (°): 30
Area (square °): 948
Opposition: Jun 10
Size Rank: 11st
Brightness Rank: 20th
Genitive: Ophiuchi
Major or notable stars in Ophiuchus
Rasalhague – α Ophiuchi (Alpha Ophiuchi)
Sabik – η Ophiuchi (Eta Ophiuchi)
ζ Ophiuchi (Zeta Ophiuchi)
Yed Prior – δ Ophiuchi (Delta Ophiuchi)
Celbalrai – β Ophiuchi (Beta Ophiuchi)
κ Ophiuchi (Kappa Ophiuchi)
Yed Posterior – ε Ophiuchi (Epsilon Ophiuchi)
θ Ophiuchi (Theta Ophiuchi)
Sinistra – ν Ophiuchi (Nu Ophiuchi)
γ Ophiuchi – Gamma Ophiuchi
Marfik – λ Ophiuchi (Lambda Ophiuchi)
67 Ophiuchi
70 Ophiuchi
χ Ophiuchi (Chi Ophiuchi)
36 Ophiuchi
51 Ophiuchi
12 Ophiuchi
Barnard’s Star
GJ 1214
Wolf 1061
Kepler’s Supernova – Supernova 1604
RS Ophiuchi
COROT-6
Deep Sky Objects in Ophiuchus
Messier 9 (M9, NGC 6333)
Messier 10 (M10, NGC 6254)
Messier 12 (M12, NGC 6218)
Messier 14 (M14, NGC 6402)
Messier 19 (M19, NGC 6273)
Messier 62 (M62, NGC 6266)
Messier 107 (M107, NGC 6171)
NGC 6240
IC 4665
Barnard 68
NGC 6572
IC 4603-4604
Little Ghost Nebula (NGC 6369)
Dark Horse Nebula
Pipe Nebula – Barnard 59
Snake Nebula – Barnard 72
Twin Jet Nebula (Minkowski’s Butterfly) – Planetary Nebula M2-9
Rho Ophiuchi Cloud Complex
NGC 6633
Palomar 6
NGC 6304
Mythology of the Constellation Ophiuchus
The constellation Ophiuchus, the “Serpent Bearer”, is also called Asclepius, the son of Apollo. He was the first physician of human form and gained fame by joining Jason and the Argonauts. This is considered the favorite constellation to buy a star package to name a star for a doctor or medical professional. It is said that Chiron the benevolent Centaur was given the care of Ophiuchus by Apollo. Chiron is said to have instructed the boy in the art of healing and restoring life to the dead. Several tales have been told about his ability to restore life.
One tale about Ophiuchus tells how he learned the secrets of life accidentally. After killing a snake by strangulation, the snake’s mate appeared with an herb in its mouth. When the second snake gave some of this herb to the dead snake, life was restored. When Ophiuchus saw what had happened, he used the same medicinal herb to restore the life of young prince Glaucus. From that point on Ophiuchus was blessed with the ability to restore life.
Another myth says he was given blood from the veins on the right side of the Gorgon, Medusa. Although the blood on the left side of Medusa were poison, the blood on the right was said to restore life. Ophiuchus’ ability to restore life did not go unnoticed. Zeus and his brother Hades saw that Ophiuchus could destroy the delicate balance between life and death with his powers. Zeus struck him down with a bolt of lightning to prevent him from giving mankind immortality. Because Ophiuchus helped so many, Zeus rewarded him with a place among the stars. The serpent in the hand of Ophiuchus remains today as the symbol of medicine, called the “Caduceus”.
FAQ
Q. What are the brightest stars in Ophiuchus?
A. The brightest stars in Ophiuchus include α Ophiuchi, called Rasalhague (“head of the serpent charmer”), at magnitude 2.07, and η Ophiuchi, known as Sabik (“the preceding one”), at magnitude 2.43.[6] Alpha Ophiuchi is composed of an A-type giant star [7] RS Ophiuchi is part of a class called recurrent novae, whose brightness increase at irregular intervals by hundreds of times in a period of just a few days.
Q. What is a lled recurrent novae?
A. RS Ophiuchi is part of a class called recurrent novae, whose brightness increase at irregular intervals by hundreds of times in a period of just a few days.
Q. What is Ophiuchus?
A. Ophiuchus is the 11th largest constellation in the sky, occupying an area of 948 square degrees.