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

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. Best viewing month*:
2. July

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

1. Declination (avg):
2. -2° 21'

1. Brightest star:
2. Rasalhague (2.08)

1. Stars with planets:
2. 19

1. Messier catalog objects:
2. |

1. Caldwell catalog 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. diffuse

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. protoplanetary

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

* 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).