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Ophiuchus constellation

Ophiuchus is a constellation near the celestial equator. Its brightest star is Rasalhague. Visibility at mid-northern latitudes (52° N): rises and sets, fully visible.

  • Summerbest seen
  • Rasalhaguebrightest star, magnitude 2.1
  • OphOphiuchus
Show on the sky map
The constellation Ophiuchus in the starry sky: its figure and its bright stars Antares, Scorpius — magnitude 1.1. Open on the sky mapNunki, Sagittarius — magnitude 2.0. Open on the sky mapRasalhague, Ophiuchus — magnitude 2.1. Open on the sky mapRasalhagueDschubba, Scorpius — magnitude 2.3. Open on the sky mapLarawag, Scorpius — magnitude 2.3. Open on the sky mapSabik, Ophiuchus — magnitude 2.4. Open on the sky mapSabikSaik, Ophiuchus — magnitude 2.5. Open on the sky mapSaikAcrab, Scorpius — magnitude 2.6. Open on the sky mapAscella, Sagittarius — magnitude 2.6. Open on the sky mapZubeneschamali, Libra — magnitude 2.6. Open on the sky mapUnukalhai, Serpens — magnitude 2.6. Open on the sky mapKaus Media, Sagittarius — magnitude 2.7. Open on the sky mapYed Prior, Ophiuchus — magnitude 2.7. Open on the sky mapYed PriorZubenelgenubi, Libra — magnitude 2.8. Open on the sky mapCebalrai, Ophiuchus — magnitude 2.8. Open on the sky mapCebalraiRasalgethi, Hercules — magnitude 2.8. Open on the sky mapPaikauhale, Scorpius — magnitude 2.8. Open on the sky mapKaus Borealis, Sagittarius — magnitude 2.8. Open on the sky mapAlbaldah, Sagittarius — magnitude 2.9. Open on the sky mapFang, Scorpius — magnitude 2.9. Open on the sky mapAlniyat, Scorpius — magnitude 2.9. Open on the sky mapAlnasl, Sagittarius — magnitude 3.0. Open on the sky mapOkab, Aquila — magnitude 3.0. Open on the sky mapκ Ophiuchi — magnitude 3.2. Open on the sky mapYed Posterior, Ophiuchus — magnitude 3.2. Open on the sky mapGarafsa, Ophiuchus — magnitude 3.3. Open on the sky mapν Ophiuchi — magnitude 3.3. Open on the sky map72 Ophiuchi — magnitude 3.7. Open on the sky mapMuliphen, Ophiuchus — magnitude 3.8. Open on the sky mapMarfik, Ophiuchus — magnitude 3.8. Open on the sky map67 Ophiuchi — magnitude 3.9. Open on the sky mapp Ophiuchi — magnitude 4.0. Open on the sky mapb Ophiuchi — magnitude 4.2. Open on the sky mapχ Ophiuchi — magnitude 4.2. Open on the sky mapd Ophiuchi — magnitude 4.3. Open on the sky mapφ Ophiuchi — magnitude 4.3. Open on the sky mapGuniibuu, Ophiuchus — magnitude 4.3. Open on the sky mapσ Ophiuchi — magnitude 4.3. Open on the sky mapι Ophiuchi — magnitude 4.4. Open on the sky mapAggia, Ophiuchus — magnitude 4.4. Open on the sky map68 Ophiuchi — magnitude 4.4. Open on the sky mapω Ophiuchi — magnitude 4.5. Open on the sky mapψ Ophiuchi — magnitude 4.5. Open on the sky map47 Ophiuchi — magnitude 4.5. Open on the sky mapρ Ophiuchi — magnitude 4.6. Open on the sky mapμ Ophiuchi — 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 Ophiuchus

A large constellation between Hercules and Scorpius. The Sun’s path across the sky crosses it, although it is not counted among the signs of the zodiac.

Best seen in summer: in July around 22:00 it is highest above the southern horizon — the center of the figure rises to about 30°.

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
Rasalhagueα Ophiuchi 2.1bluish white—
Sabikη Ophiuchi 2.4bluish white—
Saikζ Ophiuchi 2.5bluish white—
Yed Priorδ Ophiuchi 2.7orange—
Cebalraiβ Ophiuchi 2.8orange—
κ Ophiuchi 3.2orange—
Yed Posteriorε Ophiuchi 3.2orange—
Garafsaθ Ophiuchi 3.3blue—
ν Ophiuchi 3.3orange—
72 Ophiuchi 3.7bluish white—
Muliphenγ Ophiuchi 3.8bluish white—
Marfikλ Ophiuchi 3.8bluish white—

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 Ophiuchus in the sky?

A large constellation between Hercules and Scorpius. The Sun’s path across the sky crosses it, although it is not counted among the signs of the zodiac.

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

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 Ophiuchus?

Rasalhague: magnitude 2.1, bluish white.

How many stars are there in the constellation Ophiuchus?

With the naked eye on a perfectly dark night — with no light pollution and no Moon — you can see about 84 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 Ophiuchus is now and when it will rise.
Open the sky map