Serpens

Serpens

Abbreviation: Â Ser
English Name: Â The Serpents
Genitive:Â Alpheratz
Hemisphere:Â Â Northern Hemisphere
Location:Â Between the constellations of Cassiopeia and Pegasus.
Visible between latitudes: Â +80 and -80 degrees
Best season: Summer
Seen in three seasons:Â Spring, Summer, & Autumn
Best seen in:  July
Seen between:Â July and September.
Right Ascension (RA):  17 hour
Declination (DEC):Â Â +00 degrees
Area (square degrees): Â 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 Â – Â Globular Cluster; Â 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 Â – 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 Â – Â Globular Cluster; faint (magnitude: +10.6), only visible with 4-inch telescopes.
  • NGC 6604 Â – Â 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.

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