Serpens

Serpens

Abbreviation:  Ser
English Name:  The Serpents
Genitive: Alpheratz
Hemisphere:  Northern Hemisphere
Location: Between the constellations of Cassiopeia and Pegasus.
Visible between latitudes:  +80 and -80 degrees
Best season: Summer
Seen in three seasons: Spring, Summer, & Autumn
Best seen in:  July
Seen between: July and September.
Right Ascension (RA):  17 hour
Declination (DEC):  +00 degrees
Area (square degrees):  637 (23rd)

Serpens (The Serpent)

  • This is only uniquely constellation that is divided into two parts; Serpens Cauda (The Tail) in the left (west), and Serpens Caput (The Head) in the right (east) – they are separated by the constellation of Ophiuchus (The Serpent Holder).

Messier Objects

  • M5  –  Globular Cluster;  large, bright and rich, detectable with a naked-eye under good conditions in the southern part of Serpens Caput (The Head), it can be seen through binoculars appearing about half size of the Full Moon.
  • M16  – Open Cluster; combined with a diffuse nebula (IC 4703, the Eagle Nebula), which adds a background – in a good conditions and large telescopes are required to see detail in the gaseous nebulosity.

Features of Interest

  • NGC 6535  –  Globular Cluster; faint (magnitude: +10.6), only visible with 4-inch telescopes.
  • NGC 6604  –  Open Cluster; small (magnitude: +6.5), readily visible with the naked-eye under very good condition.

 Stars

  • Unukalhai (Alpha Ser)
  • Alya (Theta 1 Ser)

Others

 

Back to The 88 Constellations Lists  page.

Comments are closed.