When we think about summer constellations, our minds usually jump to Sagittarius the Archer, Scorpius the Scorpion, or the bright stars of the Summer Triangle. But nestled right there among them is a constellation that’s often overlooked — Ophiuchus, the Serpent-Bearer.
Not only is Ophiuchus rich in mythology and history, but it’s also packed with deep-sky treasures, curious stars, and an underrated chance to explore one of the sky’s largest constellations. So tonight, let’s roll out a blanket, set up the scope (or just our eyes), and go on a journey through Ophiuchus!

The Lore Behind Ophiuchus

Ophiuchus (pronounced “oh-FEW-kus” or sometimes “off-ih-YOU-kus”) has one of the coolest backstories in the night sky. In Greek mythology, Ophiuchus is often associated with Asclepius, the god of medicine and healing.
According to legend, Asclepius learned the secrets of life and death after watching a serpent bring another serpent back to life with a mysterious herb. Inspired, Asclepius developed the ability to resurrect the dead — a talent that understandably alarmed Hades, the god of the Underworld.
Not thrilled with the idea of humans cheating death, Hades complained to Zeus, who promptly struck Asclepius down with a thunderbolt. However, to honor Asclepius’s contributions to medicine, Zeus placed him in the stars as the constellation Ophiuchus, forever entwined with his symbol — the serpent.

You might notice that the modern symbol for medicine — the Rod of Asclepius — features a single serpent wrapped around a staff. That symbolism traces all the way back to this constellation!

Where and When to Find Ophiuchus

Ophiuchus is a big, sprawling constellation that’s best viewed in the summer months, particularly June through August in the Northern Hemisphere.
It straddles the celestial equator, meaning it’s visible from pretty much everywhere on Earth except the extreme northern and southern latitudes.

Here’s how to find it:

  • Look southward on a clear summer evening.

  • Find Scorpius — easy to spot because of its bright heart star, Antares, glowing reddish-orange.

  • Directly above Scorpius, you’ll find a large, somewhat boxy shape — that’s Ophiuchus.

  • Ophiuchus is flanked by Serpens, the serpent constellation, which is actually split into two parts: Serpens Caput (the serpent’s head) to the west, and Serpens Cauda (the serpent’s tail) to the east. Ophiuchus stands right in the middle, “holding” them apart.

Don’t be discouraged if you can’t trace the whole outline right away. Unlike Orion or Scorpius, Ophiuchus doesn’t have a super-bright standout star. But with some patience, the pattern emerges!

The Stars of Ophiuchus

While Ophiuchus doesn’t have any true “superstar” luminaries, it does boast several interesting stars worth tracking down:

Rasalhague (Alpha Ophiuchi)

  • Magnitude: ~2.1

  • Distance: ~48 light-years

  • The brightest star in Ophiuchus, Rasalhague comes from the Arabic “head of the serpent collector.”

  • It’s a beautiful bluish-white star, a rapid rotator spinning so fast it bulges at its equator.

Sabik (Eta Ophiuchi)

  • Magnitude: ~2.4

  • Distance: ~88 light-years

  • Sabik is actually a binary star — two stars orbiting each other every 88 years.

  • Through a good telescope, you can sometimes resolve the two separate points of light.

Yed Prior and Yed Posterior (Delta and Epsilon Ophiuchi)

  • Magnitude: ~2.7 and ~3.2

  • “Yed” comes from the Arabic for “hand,” referring to the hand holding the serpent.

  • These two stars are close together in the sky but are not physically related — just a line-of-sight coincidence!

Barnard’s Star

  • Magnitude: ~9.5 (needs a telescope)

  • Distance: only 6 light-years away!

  • It’s the second-closest star system to Earth (after the Alpha Centauri system).

  • Barnard’s Star is famous for having the fastest proper motion across the sky of any star. It’s zipping along at a noticeable rate — about 10 arcseconds per year!

Although it’s too faint for the naked eye, Barnard’s Star is a cool observing challenge for small telescopes.

Deep-Sky Treasures in Ophiuchus

Ophiuchus isn’t just about stars — it’s stuffed with clusters and globulars. In fact, it’s one of the best areas for globular cluster hunting in the whole sky.

Here are some of the brightest and best objects, many listed in the famous Messier catalog:

Messier 10 (M10)

  • Globular cluster

  • Magnitude: ~6.6

  • Distance: ~14,300 light-years

  • A compact, bright ball of stars. Visible in binoculars as a fuzzy glow; small telescopes reveal it as a dense swarm.

Messier 12 (M12)

  • Globular cluster

  • Magnitude: ~6.7

  • Distance: ~16,000 light-years

  • M12 is slightly looser and less concentrated than M10 — they’re only about 3° apart!

Messier 14 (M14)

  • Globular cluster

  • Magnitude: ~7.6

  • Distance: ~30,300 light-years

  • M14 is a little trickier because it’s dimmer and more compact.

  • Fun fact: a nova (a star explosion) was detected inside M14 in the 1930s!

Messier 62 (M62)

  • Globular cluster

  • Magnitude: ~6.6

  • Distance: ~22,500 light-years

  • Very close to the border with Scorpius, M62 is a standout globular cluster, especially rewarding through a telescope.

Messier 107 (M107)

  • Globular cluster

  • Magnitude: ~8.1

  • Distance: ~20,900 light-years

  • One of the fainter Messier objects but still beautiful. Some amateurs call it a “challenger cluster” because of how tricky it can be in light-polluted skies.

A Word on the Zodiac and Ophiuchus

Astrology lovers might perk up at the name Ophiuchus because every so often, you’ll hear someone claim that there’s a “13th zodiac sign.”

Here’s the deal:

  • Ophiuchus lies along the ecliptic — the path the Sun appears to trace across the sky over the year.

  • Technically, the Sun does pass through Ophiuchus from about November 29 to December 17 each year.

  • But traditional Western astrology only recognizes 12 zodiac signs, so Ophiuchus got left out of the zodiac lineup.

Whether you think that makes you a secret Ophiuchus or not, it’s a fun little piece of sky trivia to impress your friends with.

Observation Tips for Ophiuchus

If you’re planning a night of Ophiuchus stargazing, here’s how to get the best experience:

Gear

  • Eyes: You can spot the basic shape of the constellation with the naked eye in dark skies.

  • Binoculars: Great for seeing clusters like M10 and M12 as small, fuzzy glows.

  • Small Telescope (4–6 inch): Will show individual stars in the globular clusters and allow you to pick apart close binaries like Sabik.

Timing

  • Best observed at its highest around 10 PM in late June and early July.

  • Try to get out of town — dark skies will make the clusters pop far more than urban settings.

Starhopping

  • Start at Antares in Scorpius (easy to find).

  • Move your gaze upward — look for a broad, boxy collection of stars. Rasalhague is near the top of the box.

  • Sweep left and right with binoculars to stumble upon globular clusters — they’re sprinkled throughout the area!

Challenges

  • Light pollution can really drown out the subtle stars of Ophiuchus.

  • It’s not as “picture-perfect” as something like Orion, so patience and a star chart help a lot.

Final Thoughts

Ophiuchus might not be the flashiest constellation in the sky, but it’s absolutely worth a night (or several) of exploration.
It’s a place where you can touch on mythology, stellar science, zodiac oddities, and deep-sky observing challenges all in one sweep.

So next time you’re laying under the summer sky, point your binoculars upward and give a nod to the Serpent-Bearer.
He’s been up there watching over us for thousands of years — it’s high time he got a little stargazing love.