Serpens constellation
Latin Serpens, genitive Serpentis, abbreviation Ser
North up, east to the left, as you see the sky. The lines are a common figure; the stars are from the catalogue.
The myth
The serpent held by the Serpent Bearer, Asclepius. The only constellation in two separate parts: head and tail, on either side of him.
When can Serpens be seen?
It stands highest around 10 pm in June. It can be seen from everywhere north of 76°S.
The brightest stars
| Star | Designation | Magnitude | Colour |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unukalhai | α Ser | 2.65 | orange |
| – | η Ser | 3.26 | yellow |
| – | μ Ser | 3.53 | bluish |
| – | ξ Ser | 3.54 | white |
| Nasak Shamiya | β Ser | 3.67 | white |
| – | ε Ser | 3.71 | white |
| Nasak Yamani | δ Ser | 3.80 | white |
| – | δ Ser | 3.80 | white |
The smaller the number, the brighter: below 1 are the brightest stars of the sky, 4 is hard to see under a city sky. Greek letters after Johann Bayer (1603).