- Serpens
Infobox Constellation
name = Serpens
abbreviation = Ser
genitive = Serpentis
symbology = theSnake
RA = "Serpens Caput": 16 h "Serpens Cauda": 18
dec= "Serpens Caput": +10° "Serpens Cauda": −5
areatotal = 637
arearank = 23rd
numbermainstars = 9
numberbfstars = 57
numberstarsplanets = 5
numberbrightstars = 1
numbernearbystars = 3
brighteststarname = α Ser (Unukalhai)
starmagnitude = 2.63
neareststarname = γ Ser
stardistance = 36.3
numbermessierobjects = 2
meteorshowers =
bordering = "Serpens Caput:"Corona Borealis Boötes
Virgo
LibraOphiuchus
Hercules
"Serpens Cauda:"
AquilaOphiuchus
SagittariusScutum
latmax = 80
latmin = 80
month = July
notes=Serpens (pronEng|ˈsɝpənz,
Latin for "snake ") is one of the 88 modernconstellation s, and was also one of the 48 listed byPtolemy . Among the modern constellations it is unique in being split into two pieces, Serpens Caput (representing the head of the snake) to the west and Serpens Cauda (representing the tail) to the east. Between these two pieces lies the constellation ofOphiuchus , the serpent holder.Notable features
Since Serpens is regarded as one constellation despite being split into two halves, the ordering of
Bayer designation s goes in order of brightness among both halves.Only one of the stars in Serpens is brighter than third magnitude, so the constellation is not easy to perceive. α Serpentis, named
Unukalhai , is in the head part. δ Serpentis, also in the head, is a double star 210 light-years from Earth. θ Serpentis. also namedAlya ("the snake" inArabic ), in the tail, is also double.Stars in the head include α, β, γ, δ, ε, ι, κ, λ, μ, π, ρ, σ, τ, χ and ω Serpentis. Stars in the tail include ζ, η, θ, ν, ξ, and ο Serpentis.
Notable deep-sky objects
Messier 5 , aglobular cluster located approximately 8° southwest of α Serpentis in the head.Messier 16 is a young
open cluster associated with theEagle Nebula , adiffuse nebula which is a region of current star formation in the tail.MWC 922, a
nebula in the Mount Wilson Catalog, is a Symmetric Bipolar Nebula notable for its appearance as a perfectly symmetrical square or rectangle. It is also known asIRAS 18184-1302, and located at RA: 18:21:16 DEC: -13:01:27, near M16 in Serpens Cauda. The MWC is fromMount Wilson Observatory .Part of the
Milky Way passes through the tail, as illustrated by the shaded regions of the star map.The Serpens South star cluster was uncovered by NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope in the southern portion of the Serpens cloud. The discovery was possible due to the infrared observation capabilities of the SST because at visible wavelengths the stars are completely obscured by interstellar dust in the Serpens cloud.
Mythology
Serpens is the snake being grasped by
Ophiuchus , the Snake-Handler, and is thus very closely associated with it. Both were listed as constellations by Ptolemy. Originally, Serpens and Ophiuchus were considered a single Snake-Holder constellation, out of which developed an associated myth of the founding of medicine.Appearances in Pop Culture
Serpens is the title of the 3rd track on the 3rd studio album from "Euphoria, We'll Call It," an experimental music group. The album is constellation-themed, and currently unnamed.
References
* Ian Ridpath and Wil Tirion (2007). "Stars and Planets Guide", Collins, London. ISBN 978-0007251209. Princeton University Press, Princeton. ISBN 978-0691135564.
External links
* [http://www.allthesky.com/constellations/serpens/ The Deep Photographic Guide to the Constellations: Serpens]
* [http://www.ianridpath.com/startales/serpens.htm Star Tales – Serpens]
* [http://www.spitzer.caltech.edu/Media/happenings/20070808/ Stellar Siblings in Serpens South]
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