Tonight, look for the faint constellation Ophiuchus the Serpent Bearer. From the Northern Hemisphere, look southward at mid-to-late evening in July. From the Southern Hemisphere, look around this same time, but overhead. From all parts of Earth in the month of July, Ophiuchus crosses the sky westward as Earth spins under the sky, and as evening deepens into late night. Ophiuchus is sometimes called the 13th or forgotten constellation of the zodiac.
The sun passes in front of Ophiuchus from about November 29 to December 17. And yet no one ever says they’re born when the sun is in Ophiuchus. That’s because Ophiuchus is a constellation – not a sign – of the zodiac.
Ophiuchus in Urania’s Mirror, a boxed set of 32 constellation cards first published in 1824. Image via www.ianridpath.com.
What’s the difference? The 12 signs of the tropical zodiac represent equal 30o divisions of sky, while the 13 constellations of the zodiac are of various sizes.
That’s why, for example, the sun resides in front of each zodiacal sign for a precise interval of about a month. Meanwhile, the sun is in front of the constellations for varying amounts of time, for example, in front of the constellation Virgo for about one-and-a-half months and in front of constellation Scorpius for about a week.
The planet Saturn and the bright red star Antares in the constellation Scorpius the Scorpion can help you find Ophiuchus in the night sky. Saturn actually shines in front of Ophiuchus in 2017. Meanwhile, Ophiuchus is to the north of the star Antares
Even after Saturn moves into different constellations of the zodiac in the years ahead, you can look for Ophiuchus a short hop to the north of Antares in any year. Ophiuchus’ brightest star – the 2nd-magnitude star called Rasalhague – highlights the head of Ophiuchus. It’s nowhere as bright as the planet Saturn or the 1st-magnitude star Antares.
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Ophiuchus the Serpent Bearer, via Wikimedia Commons.
On sky maps, Ophiuchus the Serpent Bearer is depicted as holding Serpens the Serpent, which is considered a separate constellation. According to ancient Greek star lore, Ophiuchus is Asclepius, the physician who concocted a healing potion from the Serpent’s venom, mixing it with the Gorgon’s blood and an unknown herb. This potion gave humans access to immortality, until the god of the underworld appealed to Zeus to reconsider the ramifications of the death of death.
Even today, the Staff of Asclepius – the symbol of the World Heath Organization – pays tribute to the constellation Ophiuchus the Serpent Bearer.
Bottom line: Will you see faint Ophichus, the overlooked zodiacal constellation, tonight?
Read more: Born between November 29 and December 18? Here’s your constellation
Dates of sun’s entry into each constellation of the Zodiac
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Tonight, look for the faint constellation Ophiuchus the Serpent Bearer. From the Northern Hemisphere, look southward at mid-to-late evening in July. From the Southern Hemisphere, look around this same time, but overhead. From all parts of Earth in the month of July, Ophiuchus crosses the sky westward as Earth spins under the sky, and as evening deepens into late night. Ophiuchus is sometimes called the 13th or forgotten constellation of the zodiac.
The sun passes in front of Ophiuchus from about November 29 to December 17. And yet no one ever says they’re born when the sun is in Ophiuchus. That’s because Ophiuchus is a constellation – not a sign – of the zodiac.
Ophiuchus in Urania’s Mirror, a boxed set of 32 constellation cards first published in 1824. Image via www.ianridpath.com.
What’s the difference? The 12 signs of the tropical zodiac represent equal 30o divisions of sky, while the 13 constellations of the zodiac are of various sizes.
That’s why, for example, the sun resides in front of each zodiacal sign for a precise interval of about a month. Meanwhile, the sun is in front of the constellations for varying amounts of time, for example, in front of the constellation Virgo for about one-and-a-half months and in front of constellation Scorpius for about a week.
The planet Saturn and the bright red star Antares in the constellation Scorpius the Scorpion can help you find Ophiuchus in the night sky. Saturn actually shines in front of Ophiuchus in 2017. Meanwhile, Ophiuchus is to the north of the star Antares
Even after Saturn moves into different constellations of the zodiac in the years ahead, you can look for Ophiuchus a short hop to the north of Antares in any year. Ophiuchus’ brightest star – the 2nd-magnitude star called Rasalhague – highlights the head of Ophiuchus. It’s nowhere as bright as the planet Saturn or the 1st-magnitude star Antares.
Help support posts like these at the EarthSky store. Fun astronomy gifts and tools for all ages.
Ophiuchus the Serpent Bearer, via Wikimedia Commons.
On sky maps, Ophiuchus the Serpent Bearer is depicted as holding Serpens the Serpent, which is considered a separate constellation. According to ancient Greek star lore, Ophiuchus is Asclepius, the physician who concocted a healing potion from the Serpent’s venom, mixing it with the Gorgon’s blood and an unknown herb. This potion gave humans access to immortality, until the god of the underworld appealed to Zeus to reconsider the ramifications of the death of death.
Even today, the Staff of Asclepius – the symbol of the World Heath Organization – pays tribute to the constellation Ophiuchus the Serpent Bearer.
Bottom line: Will you see faint Ophichus, the overlooked zodiacal constellation, tonight?
Read more: Born between November 29 and December 18? Here’s your constellation
Dates of sun’s entry into each constellation of the Zodiac
Enjoying EarthSky so far? Sign up for our free daily newsletter today!
from EarthSky http://ift.tt/1OfZ5mM
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