Serpens
Sign in to saveSerpens () is a constellation in the northern celestial hemisphere. One of the 48 constellations listed by the 2nd-century astronomer Ptolemy, it remains one of the 88 modern constellations designated by the International Astronomical Union. It is unique among the modern constellations in being split into two non-contiguous parts, Serpens Caput (Serpent Head) to the west and Serpens Cauda (Serpent Tail) to the east. Between these two halves lies the constellation of Ophiuchus, the "Serpent-Bearer". In figurative representations, the body of the serpent is represented as passing behind Ophiuchu
AI overview
Serpens is a constellation in the northern sky that dates back to ancient times and remains one of the 88 officially recognized constellations today. It is uniquely divided into two separate parts—the Serpent's Head to the west and the Serpent's Tail to the east—with the constellation Ophiuchus (the Serpent-Bearer) positioned between them.
AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.
Key facts
- Constellation.name
- Serpens
- Constellation.abbreviation
- Ser
- Constellation.genitive
- Serpentis
- Constellation.pronounce
- ,genitive
- Constellation.symbolism
- the Snake
- Constellation.RA
- Serpens Caput: –Serpens Cauda: –
- Constellation.dec
- Serpens Caput: –Serpens Cauda: –
- Constellation.family
- Hercules
- Constellation.areatotal
- Serpens Caput: 428 sq. deg.Serpens Cauda: 208 sq. deg.Total: 637
- Constellation.arearank
- 23rd
- Constellation.numbermainstars
- 11
- Constellation.numberbfstars
- 57
Article
13 sectionsContents
- History
- Characteristics
- Features
- Stars
- Head stars
- Tail stars
- Deep-sky objects
- Head objects
- Tail objects
- Meteor showers
- See also
- References
- External links
Serpens () is a constellation in the northern celestial hemisphere. One of the 48 constellations listed by the 2nd-century astronomer Ptolemy, it remains one of the 88 modern constellations designated by the International Astronomical Union. It is unique among the modern constellations in being split into two non-contiguous parts, Serpens Caput (Serpent Head) to the west and Serpens Cauda (Serpent Tail) to the east. Between these two halves lies the constellation of Ophiuchus, the "Serpent-Bearer". In figurative representations, the body of the serpent is represented as passing behind Ophiuchus between Mu Serpentis in Serpens Caput and Nu Serpentis in Serpens Cauda.
The brightest star in Serpens is the red giant star Alpha Serpentis, or Unukalhai, in Serpens Caput, with an apparent magnitude of 2.63. Also located in Serpens Caput are the naked-eye globular cluster Messier 5 and the naked-eye variables R Serpentis and Tau4 Serpentis. Notable extragalactic objects include Seyfert's Sextet, one of the densest galaxy clusters known; Arp 220, the prototypical ultraluminous infrared galaxy; and Hoag's Object, the most famous of the very rare class of galaxies known as ring galaxies.