Ophiuchus
The giant serpent-bearer of summer
Best on June–August evenings · celestial equator (visible from both hemispheres).
Ophiuchus is a large constellation sitting astride the celestial equator, depicting a figure grasping a great serpent. It's visible from both hemispheres on summer evenings and, despite its size, is often overlooked in favor of flashier neighbors like Scorpius to its south.
How to find it
On summer evenings, face south from northern latitudes and find brilliant Vega high overhead, then drop your gaze toward the horizon to locate the curved red heart of Scorpius, Antares. Ophiuchus fills the wide, fainter stretch of sky just above Scorpius — its bright star Rasalhague marks the top of the figure, and the whole constellation spreads broadly between the Milky Way star fields on either side.
Brightest stars
Rasalhague (α Oph) leads at magnitude 2.08, and Sabik (η Oph) follows close behind at magnitude 2.43. Yed Prior (δ Oph, magnitude 2.74) and Cebalrai (β Oph, magnitude 2.77) round out the brightest corner of this wide constellation.
Worth seeing
The pairing of Yed Prior and Yed Posterior — side by side in the sky at magnitudes 2.74 and 3.24 — is a satisfying naked-eye double worth singling out on a steady night.
Frequently asked
When is Ophiuchus best visible?
Summer evenings, roughly June through August, when it climbs high in the south for northern observers and rides well above the horizon for southern observers too.
What are the brightest stars in Ophiuchus?
Rasalhague (α Oph) at magnitude 2.08 is the brightest, followed by Sabik (η Oph) at 2.43, then Yed Prior at 2.74 and Cebalrai at 2.77.
Which hemisphere can see Ophiuchus?
Both. Because it straddles the celestial equator, Ophiuchus is accessible from the northern and southern hemispheres alike on summer evenings.
Nearby constellations
Serpens · Scorpius · Libra · Sagittarius · Aquila · Hercules · Lyra · Boötes