EN
РусскийEnglishՀայերեն
Sections

Hercules constellation

Hercules is a constellation of the northern sky. Its brightest star is Kornephoros. Visibility at mid-northern latitudes (52° N): rises and sets, fully visible.

  • Summerbest seen
  • Kornephorosbrightest star, magnitude 2.8
  • HerHercules
Show on the sky map
The constellation Hercules in the starry sky: its figure and its bright stars Vega, Lyra — magnitude 0.0. Open on the sky mapRasalhague, Ophiuchus — magnitude 2.1. Open on the sky mapAlphecca, Corona Borealis — magnitude 2.2. Open on the sky mapKornephoros, Hercules — magnitude 2.8. Open on the sky mapKornephorosRasalgethi, Hercules — magnitude 2.8. Open on the sky mapRasalgethiζ Herculis — magnitude 2.8. Open on the sky mapSarin, Hercules — magnitude 3.1. Open on the sky mapSarinπ Herculis — magnitude 3.2. Open on the sky mapμ Herculis — magnitude 3.4. Open on the sky mapη Herculis — magnitude 3.5. Open on the sky mapξ Herculis — magnitude 3.7. Open on the sky mapγ Herculis — magnitude 3.7. Open on the sky mapι Herculis — magnitude 3.8. Open on the sky mapο Herculis — magnitude 3.8. Open on the sky map109 Herculis — magnitude 3.9. Open on the sky mapθ Herculis — magnitude 3.9. Open on the sky mapτ Herculis — magnitude 3.9. Open on the sky mapε Herculis — magnitude 3.9. Open on the sky mapρ Herculis — magnitude 4.2. Open on the sky map110 Herculis — magnitude 4.2. Open on the sky mapσ Herculis — magnitude 4.2. Open on the sky mapφ Herculis — magnitude 4.2. Open on the sky map95 Herculis — magnitude 4.3. Open on the sky map111 Herculis — magnitude 4.3. Open on the sky map102 Herculis — magnitude 4.4. Open on the sky mapMaasym, Hercules — magnitude 4.4. Open on the sky mapν Herculis — magnitude 4.4. Open on the sky mapCujam, Hercules — magnitude 4.6. Open on the sky map113 Herculis — magnitude 4.6. Open on the sky map N ↑← E
North is up, east is left — this is how the constellation looks in the sky. Click a star to open it on the sky map.

How to find the constellation Hercules

Between Vega and Corona Borealis. Hercules is easiest to recognize by the Keystone, a quadrilateral of medium-bright stars.

Best seen in summer: in July around 22:00 it is highest above the southern horizon — the center of the figure rises to about 71°.

LocationVisibility
40° NMadrid, New York, Beijingrises and sets, fully visible
52° NLondon, Berlin, Warsawrises and sets, fully visible
60° NOslo, Helsinki, Saint Petersburgrises and sets, fully visible

Bright stars of the constellation

StarMagnitudeColorDistance
Kornephorosβ Herculis 2.8orange—
Rasalgethiα¹ Herculis 2.8orange—
ζ Herculis 2.8yellow—
Sarinδ Herculis 3.1bluish white—
π Herculis 3.2orange—
μ Herculis 3.4yellow—
η Herculis 3.5orange—
ξ Herculis 3.7orange—
γ Herculis 3.7white—
ι Herculis 3.8blue—
ο Herculis 3.8bluish white—
109 Herculis 3.9orange—

Magnitude is a measure of a star’s brightness: the smaller the number, the brighter the star; on a dark night the naked eye can see stars down to magnitude 6.

Questions

How do you find the constellation Hercules in the sky?

Between Vega and Corona Borealis. Hercules is easiest to recognize by the Keystone, a quadrilateral of medium-bright stars.

When is the best time of year to observe the constellation Hercules?

In summer: in July around 22:00 the constellation is highest above the horizon. Two or three months earlier it can be seen before dawn, two or three months later only in the early evening, and half a year later it is in the sky during the day, near the Sun, and can’t be seen.

What is the brightest star in the constellation Hercules?

Kornephoros: magnitude 2.8, orange.

How many stars are there in the constellation Hercules?

With the naked eye on a perfectly dark night — with no light pollution and no Moon — you can see about 135 stars in the constellation (brighter than magnitude 6, within the constellation’s boundaries). In a city far fewer: usually only the stars of its figure.

Summer constellations

Find it in the sky tonightA sky map over your city: where the constellation Hercules is now and when it will rise.
Open the sky map