We know that there are billions of stars scattered throughout the universe that make up constellations. One of the constellations that attracts attention is Ophiuchus. The Ophiuchus constellation It is one of the 88 constellations recognized by the International Astronomical Union (IAU). Its name comes from Latin and means "snake tamer". It is located in the southern celestial hemisphere and extends across the celestial equator, so it can also be observed from the northern hemisphere during the summer months.
In this article we are going to tell you everything you need to know about the Ophiuchus constellation, its symbol, characteristics and much more.
Ophiuchus constellation and its symbol
Ophiuchus is a rather special constellation, as it is the only one in the zodiac that has not been officially recognized as one of the twelve traditional constellations of the zodiac. Despite this, its presence on the ecliptic, the apparent path of the Sun across the sky, it has led some astrologers to include it in the zodiac and attribute astrological influences to it.
The Ophiuchus symbol is represented by a human figure holding a snake. This image symbolizes the legend associated with the constellation. According to Greek mythology, Ophiuchus represents Asclepius, the god of medicine and healing. Asclepius was known for his ability to bring the dead back to life, which caused concern among the Olympian gods.
Some history
In the story, Zeus, the king of the gods, decided to kill Asclepius with lightning in order to maintain balance in the world of the living and the dead. As a tribute to his medical skills, Asclepius was placed in the sky as the constellation Ophiuchus. The snake that he holds in his hands is the symbol of medicine, related to the staff of Asclepius, which is often depicted with a snake coiled around it.
Although Ophiuchus may not have the wide recognition that the traditional constellations of the zodiac have, its history and symbolism make it a point of interest to astronomers as well as those interested in Greek mythology and astrology.
In ancient times, the Greeks associated it with Asclepius, the founding demigod of medicine. As the only son of Apollo and Colonis, he received medical guidance from the centaur Chiron. When Asclepius was killed by Zeus, the gods brought him back to life on the condition that he live forever on high. To set him apart from other Olympic legends, he had him hold two snakes. At the time, they were considered symbols of rebirth due to their ability to shed their skin to start a new cycle. According to Greek mythology, this is how the constellation Ophiuchus was formed.
In the night sky it can be located in a right ascension of 17h and a declination of 0º. Since it is close to the equator, you can see the northern and southern hemispheres. Especially in late December and early January when it is at its highest visibility in the sky.
Today the constellation is known as Ophiuchus because that is how the Romans adapted the legend into Latin. If the Greek tradition were to be followed, this constellation would actually be known as "Asclepius", the snake charmer.
The number 13 of the Zodiac
It is a dim but very large constellation in the sky, difficult to see in places with a lot of light pollution. Ophiuchus is also a sign of the zodiac. It is number 13 because it is partly between Sagittarius and Scorpio and the sun also passes through that sign.. To establish calendars and determine the seasons, ancient astronomers recorded the constellations that were visible before sunrise and after sunset. In this way they divided the zodiac into twelve equal parts, each of which received the name of a constellation. This set is called the Zodiac because most of them are named after animals.
We currently know of 13 (12 plus Ophiuchus), and the time that the Sun spends in each constellation is variable, between 6 and 38 days. It has faint stars, but also some very interesting ones, and the most beautiful part of this constellation is the closest to the Milky Way, where we can see beautiful star clusters. One of the most interesting stars is the famous Barnard's star, because it is a star with a high rotation. In fact it is the fastest in the background of the stars, moving around 10,3 seconds of arc per year. Covers the apparent size of the full moon for 180 years.
Major stars in the Ophiuchus constellation
Within the Ophiuchus constellation, we can find several interesting and significant stars. One of them is Rasalhague, also known as Alpha Ophiuchi. It is the brightest star in Ophiuchus and is located at a distance of approximately 47 light years from Earth.. Rasalhague is a bluish-white star and belongs to the spectral type A5. Its name derives from Arabic and means "head of the serpent bearer".
Another notable star in Ophiuchus is Sabik, designated as Eta Ophiuchi. Sabik is a binary star made up of two stars that are very close to each other. It is a giant star of spectral type A1 and a subgiant star of spectral type A2. Together, they emit a bluish-white light and are located at a distance of approximately 88 light-years from Earth. The name Sabik also comes from Arabic and means "previous" or "first."
The aforementioned Barnard's Star It is a red dwarf and one of the closest stars to our solar system, only 5.9 light-years away. It is known for its rapid movement across the sky, making it an interesting star for astronomers.
In addition to these mentioned stars, Ophiuchus is home to a large number of fainter stars, but which together contribute to the beauty and complexity of this constellation.
As you can see, Ofiuco has stood out a lot for being number 13 of the Zodiac constellations and for its beauty. I hope that with this information you can learn more about the Ophiuchus constellation, its symbol and its characteristics.