Ophiuchus

Authors: Susanne M Hoffmann, Youla Azkarrula, Doris Vickers

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star chart

Oph star chart (IAU and Sky & Telescope magazine, Roger Sinnott & Rick Fienberg).

One of the 88 IAU constellations; it is actually a super-constellation consisting of the IAU-constellations Ophiuchus and Serpens.

Etymology and History

The Greek constellation ...

Origin of Constellation

Greco-Roman

Aratos

The Crown is close to his back, but beside the top of his head observe the head of Ophiuchus, and from that you can identify the whole of Ophiuchus as clearly visible, [77] so bright are the brilliant shoulders that appear lying below his head: even in the light of the full moon these can be visible. But his hands are not equally bright; [80] for faint is the light that runs along this side and that; nevertheless even these are visible, for they are not dim. Both hands struggle to hold the Serpent that writhes round Ophiuchus’ waist. He constantly, with a good firm stance, tramples with both his feet the great monster [85] Scorpion, standing upright on its eye and its breast. But the Serpent writhes in his two hands, a short section in his right, while large and high it rises in the left.

(Kidd 1997)

Eratosthenes

Var. 1: This is the figure standing on Scorpius, with the snake in his hands. It is said that this is Asclepius, and that Zeus raised him among the constellations to please Apollo. Asclepius practised the medical art so well that he even brought the dead back to life, and the last person he resuscitated was Hippolytus [the son of Theseus]. As the gods were worried that the prodigies performed by Asclepius might lead to an end to the honours paid to them by men, it is said that Zeus, in a fit of anger, brought Asclepius back to life. Zeus, in anger, is said to have hurled his thunderbolt against the home of Asclepius; later, out of respect for Apollo, he raised Asclepius among the constellations. He is easily identified by his position, above the largest of the constellations, Scorpius, and his image is easily recognisable. The Snake Bearerhas a shining star on its head, one on each shoulder, three on the left arm, four on the right arm, one on each hip, one on each knee, one on the right calf and one on each foot, the brightest being the one on the right foot. Seventeen in all. The Snake has two stars on the tip of its head...

Var. 2: This is the figure standing on the Scorpion with a snake in his hands. Some astronomers claim that this is Asclepius and that Zeus, because he had struck him with lightning, decided to grant him this honour to please Apollo (because in the midst of men he used his medical knowledge to bring the dead back to life). Zeus, therefore, was angry and hurled his thunderbolt against his home; but, out of respect for Apollo, he raised Asclepius among the constellations. The Serpentarian has a shining star on his head, a shining one on each shoulder, three on the left arm, four on the right arm four on the right arm, one on each hip, one on each knee, one on the right calf, one on each foot. In all seventeen. (Pamias and Zucker 2013)

Hipparchus

Rising (Lib II Cap V §10)

The Rising of ...

	east		south
	lam1	lam2	lam1	lam2
	Lib 29	Sco 23	Leo 3	Vir 3
star	those in the left hand which also lay in the snake	of the four in the right foot the second from the west
duration	3 hours = 127.5 min = 31 7/8 degree

Setting (Lib II Cap VI §10)

	west		south
	lam1	lam2	lam1	lam2
	Sco 11	Cap 2	Cap 25	Psc 10 1/2
star	the left one in the foot	the one in the head
duration	3 hours = 180 min = 45°

Stars Mentioned

	Greek	German	English	ident.	src		lam_culm
					Lib II Cap V §10	rising, east, first
					Lib II Cap V §10	rising, east, last
					Lib II Cap VI §2	setting CrB, south, last	Psc 13.5
					Lib II Cap VI §13	setting Aql, south, first	Ari 2
					Lib III Cap I §9	rising Ori, south, last	Psc 13

Hyginus, Astronomica

Ophiuchus, who, by our writers, is called the Serpent-holder, is stationed above Scorpio, and holds in his hands a serpent which coils about his body.

Many have called him Carnabon, king of the Getae, who lived in Thrace. He came into power at the time when it is thought grain was first given to mortals. For when Ceres was distributing her bounties to men, she bade Triptolemus, whose nurse she had been, go around to all the nations and distribute grain, so that tCarnahey and their descendants might more easily rise above primitive ways of living. He went in a dragon car, and is said to have been the first to use one wheel, so as not to be delayed in his journey. When he came to the king of the Getae, whom we mentioned above, he was at first hospitably received. Later, not as a beneficent and innocent visitor, but as a most cruel foe, he was seized by treachery, and he who was ready to prolong the lives of others, almost lost his own life. For at the order of Carnabon one dragon was killed, so that Triptolemus might not hope his dragon car could save him when he realized an ambush was being prepared. But Ceres is said to have come there, and restored the stolen chariot to the youth, substituting another dragon, and punishing the king with no slight punishment for his malevolent attempt. For Hegesianax says that Ceres, for men's remembrance, pictures Carnabon among the stars, holding a dragon in his hands as if to kill it. He lived so painfully that he brought on himself a most welcome death.

Others point out that he is Hercules, killing in Lydia near the river Sagaris a snake which kept destroying many men and stripping the river banks of grain. In return for this deed, Omphale, the queen of that region, sent him back to Argos loaded with gifts, and because of his bravery he was placed by Jove among the constellations.

Some, too, have said that he is Triopas, king of the Thessalians, who, in trying to roof his own house, tore down the temple of Ceres, built by the men of old. When hunger was brought on him by Ceres for this deed, he could never afterward be satisfied by any amount of food. Last of all, toward the end of his life, when a snake was sent to plague him, he suffered many ills, and at last winning death, was put among the stars by the will of Ceres. And so the snake, coiling round him, still seems to inflict deserved and everlasting punishment.

Polyzelus the Rhodian, however, points out that this is Phorbas, who was of great assistance to the Rhodians. The citizens called their island, overrun by a great number of snakes, Ophiussa. In this multitude of beasts was a snake of immense size, which had killed many of them; and when the deserted land began finally to lack men, Phorbas, son of Triopas by Hiscilla, Myrmidon's daughter, when carried there by a storm, killed all the beasts, as well as that huge snake. Since he was especially favored by Apollo, he was put among the constellations, shown killing the snake for the sake of praise and commemoration. And so the Rhodians, as often as they go with their fleet rather far from their shores, make offerings first for the coming of Phorbas, that such a happening of unexpected valor should befall the citizens as the opportunity for glory which brought Phorbas, unconscious of future praise, to the stars.

Many astronomers have imagined that he is Aesculapius, whom Jupiter, for the sake of Apollo, put among the stars. For when Aesculapius was among men, he so fare excelled the rest in the art of medicine that it wasn't enough for him to have healed men's diseases unless he could also bring back the dead to life. He is said most recently, according to Eratosthenes to have restored to life Hippolytus who had been killed by the injustice of his stepmother and the ignorance of his father. Some have said that by his skill Glaucus, son of Minos, lived again. Because of this, as for a sin, Jove struck and burned his house with a thunderbolt, but because of his skill, and since Apollo was his father, put him among the constellations holding a snake.

Certain people have said that he holds the snake for the following reason. When he was commanded to restore Glaucus, and was confined in a secret prison, while meditating what he should do, staff in hand, a snake is said to have crept on to his staff. Distracted in mind, Aesculapius killed it, striking it again and again with his staff as it tried to flee. Later, it is said, another snake came there, bringing an herb in its mouth, and placed it on its head. When it had done this, both fled from the place. Where upon Aesculapius, using the same herb, brought Glaucus, too, back to life.

And so the snake is put in the guardianship of Aesculapius and among the stars as well. Following his example, his descendants passed the knowledge on to others, so that doctors make use of snakes. (Mary Ward 1960)

Almagest Ὀφιοῦχος.

id	Greek (Heiberg 1898)	English (Toomer 1984)	ident.
	Ὀφιούχου ἀστερισμός.	Constellation of Ophiuchus
1	ὁ ἐπὶ τῆς κεφαλῆς	The star on the head	alf Oph
2	τῶν ἐπὶ τοῦ δεξιοῦ ὅμου β ὁ προηγούμενος	The more advanced of the 2 stars on the right shoulder	bet Oph
3	ὁ ἐπόμενος αὐτῶν	The rearmost of them	gam Oph
4	τῶν ἐπὶ τοῦ ἀριστεροῦ ὤμου β ὁ προηγούμενος	The more advanced of the 2 stars on the left shou Ider	iot Oph
5	ὁ ἐπόμενος αὐτῶν	The rearmost of them	kap Oph
6	ὁ ἐπὶ τοῦ ἀριστεροῦ ἀγκῶνος	The star on the left elbow	lam Oph
	τῶν ἐν τῷ ἀριστερῷ ἀκροχείρῳ ῇ ὁ προηγούμενος.	The more advanced of the 2 stars in the left hand	del Oph
	ὁ ἐπόμενος αὐτῶν	The rearmost of them	eps Oph
	ὁ ἐπὶ τοῦ δεξιοῦ ἀγκῶνος	The star on the right elbow	mu Oph
	τῶν ἐν τῷ δεξιῷ ἀκροχείρῳ β ὁ προηγούμενος	The more advanced of the 2 stars in the right hand	nu Oph
	ὁ ἐπόμενος αὐτῶν	The rearmost of them	tau Oph
	ὁ ἐπὶ τοῦ δεξιοῦ γόνατος	The star on the right knee	eta Oph
	ὁ ἐπὶ τῆς δεξιᾶς κυήμης	The star on the right lower leg	xi Oph
	τῶν ἐπὶ τοῦ δεξιοῦ ποδὸς ὁ ὁ προηγούμευος	The most advanced of the 4 stars on the right foot	36 Oph
	ὁ τούτῳ ἐπόμευος.	The one to the rear of this	tet Oph
	ὁ ἔτι τούτῳ ἐπόμενος	The one to the rear again of that	44 Oph
	ὁ λοιπὸς τῶν ὁ καὶ ἑπόμενος	The last and rearmost of the 4	51 Oph
	ὁ τούτοις ἐπόμενος καὶ ἀπτόμενος τῆς πτέρνης	The star to the rear of these, which touches the heel	51 Oph
	ὁ ἐν τῷ ἀριστερῷ γόρατι	The star in the left knee	zet Oph
	τῶν ἐν τῇ ἀριστερᾷ κυήμῃ ἢ’ ἐπ’ εὐθείας ὁ βόρειος	The northernmost of the 3 stars in a straight line m the left lower leg	phi Oph
	ὁ μέσος αὐτῶν	The middle one of these	chi Oph
	ὁ νότιος τῶν τριῶν	The southernmost of the three	psi Oph
	ὁ ἐπὶ τῆς ἀριστερᾶς πτέρρης	The star on the left heel	ome Oph
	ὁ τοῦ κοίλου τοῦ ἀριστεροῦ ποδὸς ἀπτόμενος	The star touching the hollow of the left foot	rho Oph
	ἀστέρες κῦ, ὥν ν’ μεγέθουςε, δ’ ῃ, ε ς	{24 stars, 5 of the third magnitude, 13 of the fourth, 6 of the fifth}
	Οἱ περὶ τὸν Ὀφιοῦχου ἀμόρφωτοι	Stars around Ophiuchus outside the constellation
	τῶν ἀπ’ ἀνατολῆς τοῦ δεξιοῦ ὅμου ἡ’ ὁ βόρειος	The northernmost of the 3 to the east of the right shoulder	66 Oph
	ὁ μέσος τῶν τριῶν.	The middle one of the three	67 Oph
	ὁ πότιος αὐτῶν.	The southernmost of them	68 Oph
	ὁ ἐπόμενος τοῦς γ’ ὡς ὑπὲρ τὸν μέσου.	The star to the rear of these 3, approximately over the middle one	70 Oph
	ὁ τῶν ὃ βορειότερος μουαχός	The lone star north.of[these] 4	72 Oph
	ἀστέρες ἐ μεγέθους δ	5 stars of the fourth magnitude

Convex Hull for the stars inside Ophiuchos (CC BY Youla Azkarrula).

Stars within the Constellation Area

id	Label	IAU design.	description	Vmag
1	Rasalhague	HIP 86032	Constellation lines (Vertex)	2.07
2	Sabik	HIP 84012	Constellation lines	2.42
3	ζ Ophiuchi	HIP 81377	Constellation lines	2.56
4	Cebalrai	HIP 86742	Constellation lines	2.75
5	Yed Prior	HIP 79593	Constellation lines (Vertex)	2.75
6	κ Ophiuchi	HIP 83000	Constellation lines	3.2
7	Yed Posterior	HIP 79882	Constellation lines	3.23
8	θ Ophiuchi	HIP 84970	Constellation lines	3.26
9	ν Ophiuchi	HIP 88048	Constellation lines	3.34
10	ξ Serpentis	HIP 86263	Inside the hull	3.519
11	Bake-eo (or Bake Eo)	HIP 87108	Constellation lines	3.75
12	Marfik	HIP 80883	Constellation lines	3.9
13	44 Oph	HIP 85340	Constellation lines	4.153
14	ο Serpentis	HIP 86565	Inside the hull	4.228
15	ϕ Ophiuchi	HIP 80894	Constellation lines	4.27
16	σ Ophiuchi	HIP 85355	Inside the hull	4.31
17	ν Serpentis	HIP 84880	Inside the hull	4.324
18	ι Ophiuchi	HIP 82673	Constellation lines (Vertex)	4.38
19	ξ Ophiuchi	HIP 84893	Constellation lines	4.387
20	χ Ophiuchi	HIP 80569	Constellation lines	4.43
21	ω Ophiuchi	HIP 80975	Constellation lines	4.45
22	ψ Ophiuchi	HIP 80343	Constellation lines	4.5
23	-	HIP 85365	Constellation lines	4.54
24	μ Ophiuchi	HIP 86284	Inside the hull	4.62
25	ρ Ophiuchi	HIP 80473	Constellation lines (Vertex)	4.63
26	υ Ophiuchi	HIP 80628	Inside the hull	4.63
27	20 Oph	HIP 82369	Inside the hull	4.632
28	τ 1 Ophiuchi	HIP 88404	Constellation lines (Vertex)	4.79
29	* 41 Oph A	HIP 84514	Inside the hull	4.79
30	51 Oph	HIP 85755	Constellation lines (Vertex)	4.81
31	30 Oph	HIP 83262	Inside the hull	4.812
32	24 Sco	HIP 81724	Inside the hull	4.923
33	M 10	M 10	Inside the hull	4.98
34	66 Her	HIP 84671	Inside the hull	5.02
35	Guniibuu	HIP 84405	Constellation lines (Vertex)	5.08
36	ο 1 Ophiuchi	HIP 84626	Inside the hull	5.11
37	17 G. Oph	HIP 80620	Inside the hull	5.23
38	23 Oph	HIP 82730	Inside the hull	5.23
39	45 Her	HIP 82216	Inside the hull	5.24
40	37 Oph	HIP 84177	Inside the hull	5.34
41	21 G. Oph	HIP 80693	Inside the hull	5.39
42	146 G. Oph	HIP 85537	Inside the hull	5.412
43	88 G. Oph	HIP 83962	Inside the hull	5.43
44	183 G. Oph	HIP 87847	Inside the hull	5.439
45	47 Her	HIP 82402	Inside the hull	5.469
46	21 Oph	HIP 82480	Inside the hull	5.51
47	6 G. Ser Cau	HIP 86019	Inside the hull	5.535
48	40 G. Oph	HIP 81754	Inside the hull	5.559
49	152 G. Oph	HIP 85749	Inside the hull	5.58
50	153 G. Oph	HIP 85922	Inside the hull	5.607
51	82 G. Oph	HIP 83635	Inside the hull	5.61
52	22 G. Oph	HIP 80793	Inside the hull	5.665
53	14 Oph	HIP 81734	Inside the hull	5.724
54	10 G. Ser Cau	HIP 86313	Inside the hull	5.727
55	M 14	M 14	Inside the hull	5.73
56	26 Oph	HIP 83196	Inside the hull	5.731
57	BD+02 4211	BD+02 4211	Inside the hull	5.755
58	37 Her	HIP 81641	Inside the hull	5.761
59	134 G. Oph	HIP 85139	Inside the hull	5.763
60	12 Oph	HIP 81300	Inside the hull	5.77
61	53 Oph	HIP 85998	Inside the hull	5.81
62	132 G. Oph	HIP 85207	Inside the hull	5.83
63	54 G. Oph	HIP 82621	Inside the hull	5.857
64	66 G. Oph	HIP 83176	Inside the hull	5.86
65	U Oph	HIP 84500	Inside the hull	5.921
66	13 G. Ser Cau	HIP 87074	Inside the hull	5.923
67	9 G. Ser Cau	HIP 86266	Inside the hull	5.94
68	164 G. Oph	HIP 86575	Inside the hull	5.952
69	85 G. Oph	HIP 83854	Inside the hull	5.977
70	-	HR 6516	Inside the hull	5.981
71	-	HIP 83601	Inside the hull	5.99
72	105 G. Oph	HIP 84402	Inside the hull	6.004
73	16 Oph	HIP 82037	Inside the hull	6.018
74	46 G. Oph	HIP 82259	Inside the hull	6.028
75	142 G. Oph	HIP 85333	Constellation lines	6.04
76	M 12	M 12	Inside the hull	6.07
77	19 Oph	HIP 82162	Inside the hull	6.077
78	109 G. Oph	HIP 84524	Inside the hull	6.084
79	Gliese 678	HIP 85667	Inside the hull	6.089
80	30 G. Oph	HIP 81440	Inside the hull	6.09
81	Cl Collinder 350	Cl Collinder 350	Inside the hull	6.1
82	63 G. Oph	HIP 82979	Inside the hull	6.159
83	* 24 Oph A	HIP 82925	Inside the hull	6.16
84	8 G. Oph	HIP 79781	Inside the hull	6.165
85	162 G. Oph	HIP 86476	Inside the hull	6.17
86	33 Sco	HIP 85242	Inside the hull	6.171
87	14 G. Ser Cau	HIP 87540	Inside the hull	6.176
88	V2368 Oph	HIP 84479	Inside the hull	6.18
89	61 Oph	HIP 86831	Inside the hull	6.18
90	V1010 Oph	HIP 82339	Inside the hull	6.19
91	47 Oph	HIP 85397	Inside the hull	6.206
92	Y Oph	HIP 87495	Inside the hull	6.21
93	-	HIP 83853	Inside the hull	6.23
94	V2542 Oph	HIP 82693	Constellation lines	6.24
95	10 G. Oph	HIP 80227	Inside the hull	6.241
96	34 G. Oph	HIP 81632	Inside the hull	6.245
97	159 G. Oph	HIP 86391	Inside the hull	6.253
98	41 G. Oph	HIP 81687	Inside the hull	6.259
99	131 G. Oph	HIP 85042	Inside the hull	6.278
100	28 Sco	HIP 83684	Inside the hull	6.282
101	29 Oph	HIP 83331	Inside the hull	6.293
102	77 G. Oph	HIP 83567	Inside the hull	6.3
103	51 G. Oph	HIP 82405	Inside the hull	6.31
104	-	HR 6367	Inside the hull	6.32
105	122 G. Oph	HIP 84801	Inside the hull	6.32
106	167 G. Oph	HIP 86768	Inside the hull	6.32
107	33 G. Oph	HIP 81580	Inside the hull	6.332
108	176 G. Oph	HIP 87428	Inside the hull	6.332
109	97 G. Oph	HIP 84113	Inside the hull	6.333
110	133 G. Oph	HIP 85195	Inside the hull	6.334
111	60 G. Oph	HIP 82861	Inside the hull	6.336
112	-	HR 6435	Inside the hull	6.34
113	84 G. Oph	HIP 83738	Inside the hull	6.351
114	87 G. Oph	HIP 83906	Inside the hull	6.356
115	32 Sco	HIP 84947	Inside the hull	6.36
116	12 G. Ser Cau	HIP 86769	Inside the hull	6.363
117	144 G. Oph	HIP 85474	Inside the hull	6.372
118	83 G. Oph	HIP 83677	Inside the hull	6.375
119	-	HIP 83688	Inside the hull	6.38
120	72 G. Oph	HIP 83342	Inside the hull	6.39
121	42 G. Oph	HIP 81691	Inside the hull	6.395
122	115 G. Oph	HIP 84649	Inside the hull	6.43
123	138 G. Oph	HIP 85307	Inside the hull	6.44
124	-	HIP 80708	Inside the hull	6.45
125	31 G. Oph	HIP 81499	Inside the hull	6.45
126	-	HIP 85826	Inside the hull	6.45
127	174 G. Oph	HIP 87224	Inside the hull	6.45
128	2 G. Ser Cau	HIP 84883	Inside the hull	6.454
129	-	HR 6512	Inside the hull	6.46
130	23 G. Oph	HIP 80840	Inside the hull	6.461
131	64 G. Oph	HIP 83090	Inside the hull	6.466
132	-	HIP 85622	Inside the hull	6.47
133	4 G. Ser Cau	HIP 85405	Inside the hull	6.48
134	-	HIP 85666	Inside the hull	6.48
135	V2114 Oph	HIP 85450	Inside the hull	6.485
136	38 G. Oph	HIP 81663	Inside the hull	6.49
137	-	HIP 84147	Inside the hull	6.499
138	-	HIP 81991	Inside the hull	6.56

References

• References (general)
• References (Babylonian)
• References (ancient Greco-Roman)
• References (medieval)