Serpens

Abbreviation: Ser
Genitive: Serpentis
Right Ascension: 15.71 hours
Declination: 9.07 degrees

Serpens, the Serpent, is best seen in the summer from the Northern Hemisphere.

Serpens is a very ancient constellation, and is always shown in the grasp of Ophiuchius. It was this serpent that revealed the secrets of healing the dead to Ophiuchius. The serpent is the symbol for the poison (venom) that can both cure and kill, Ophicuchius controls it and uses it to heal.

Bright Stars | Deep Sky | Other Deep Sky | Variable Stars | Double Stars

Best Known Stars

(Yale Bright Star Catalog)

Common Name or Bayer Number 1	RA	DEC	Magnitude 2
UNUKALHAI	15.00:44.00:16.08	+6.00:25.00:32.31	2.65
ETA SER	18.00:21.00:18.60	-2.00:53.00:55.74	3.26
MU SER	15.00:49.00:37.22	-3.00:25.00:48.81	3.54
XI SER	17.00:37.00:35.20	-15.00:23.00:54.78	3.54
BET SER	15.00:46.00:11.26	+15.00:25.00:18.56	3.67
EPS SER	15.00:50.00:48.97	+4.00:28.00:39.84	3.71
GAM SER	15.00:56.00:27.18	+15.00:39.00:41.88	3.85
KAP SER	15.00:48.00:44.38	+18.00:8.00:29.60	4.09
ALYA	18.00:56.00:13.19	+4.00:12.00:12.91	4.62
TAU1 SER	15.00:25.00:47.40	+15.00:25.00:40.87	5.17
3 SER	15.00:15.00:11.36	+4.00:56.00:21.67	5.33

Deep Sky Objects

(PAS Catalog)

M-16

M-16 The Eagle Nebula and Cluster. While photographs of this object highlight the beautiful nebulosity in the region, visually, the open star cluster is the predominant feature. It is about 15' in diameter and separated into two concentrations of stars, one to the northwest, and one to the southeast. I counted about 30-35 stars in both sections. The nebulosity is faintly visible as being attached to the eastern part of the northwestern stellar concentration, and separating the two portions. A UHC filter greatly enhances the view, showing the Eagle pattern clearly and its relation to the cluster.

M-5

M-5 One of my favorite globular clusters. It is 10-12' in diameter, well resolved almost to it center. Composed of relatively bright stars, the outer region of seems to swirl in arcs. With a little imagination, one can envision it as a spiral galaxy seen face on. Spend some time on this one.

Other Deep Sky Objects

(Saguaro Astronomy Club Catalog)

Only Objects less than 10.0 Mag.

Object	R.A.	Dec.	Object Type 3	Mag.	Uranometria	Tirion
NGC 5904	15 18.6	+02 05	GLOCL	05.8	244	14
NGC 6539	18 04.8	-07 35	GLOCL	09.6	294	15
NGC 6605	18 17.1	-14 58	OPNCL	06	294	15
NGC 6604	18 18.1	-12 14	OPNCL	06.5	294	15
NGC 6611	18 18.8	-13 47	CL+NB	06	294	15
IC 4756	18 39.0	+05 27	OPNCL	04.6	250	15

Variable Stars

(General Catalog of Variable Stars)

Only Objects <= 8.0 magnitude

GCVS ID	R.A. (hh mm ss.ss)	Dec. (deg mm ss)	Variable Type 4	Mag. Min	Mag. Max
FL Ser	15.00:9.00:47.70	+19.00:9.00:47.00	LB	6.02	5.79
FP Ser	15.00:52.00:15.10	+8.00:43.00:35.00	DSCTC	0.02	6.28
FQ Ser	16.00:6.00:11.80	+8.00:44.00:42.00	LB	6.60	6.31
FR Ser	18.00:33.00:8.30	+4.00:53.00:41.00	ACV	6.52	6.34
FS Ser	16.00:6.00:3.20	+8.00:39.00:57.00	LB:	5.73	5.68
LV Ser	15.00:9.00:8.00	+8.00:42.00:18.00	ACV	7.60	7.45
LY Ser	15.00:36.00:7.70	+24.00:41.00:4.00	LB:	6.96	6.70
MQ Ser	15.00:16.00:45.40	+1.00:57.00:12.00	BY:	5.11	4.99
MV Ser	18.00:29.00:37.30	+3.00:37.00:20.00	ACV	0.03	6.13
MW Ser	15.00:26.00:17.00	+3.00:59.00:48.00	M	4.00	2.70
MY Ser	18.00:15.00:17.60	-12.00:15.00:46.00	EB	7.66	7.33
NW Ser	18.00:19.00:1.00	+5.00:24.00:41.00	BE	5.59	5.39
NX Ser	18.00:33.00:19.00	+5.00:33.00:18.00	M	4.70	2.80
del Ser	15.00:32.00:24.70	+10.00:42.00:18.00	DSCTC	0.04	4.23
omi Ser	17.00:38.00:36.10	-12.00:51.00:1.00	DSCTC:	0.01	4.26
tau 4 Ser	15.00:34.00:9.10	+15.00:15.00:56.00	SRB	7.07	5.89
khi Ser	15.00:39.00:26.10	+13.00:0.00:24.00	ACV	0.03	5.33
d Ser	18.00:24.00:38.90	+0.00:9.00:53.00	I:	5.29	5.17

Double Stars

(Saguaro Astronomy Club Catalog)

Only Objects <= 8.0 magnitude

Name	R.A. (hh mm.m)	Dec. (deg mm)	Mag 5	Sep 6	PA 7	Tirion	Uranometria
STF 1919	15 12.8	19 16	6.8, 7.7	23.70	10	14/ 15	153/ 154
STF 1954	15 34.8	10 31	4.2, 5.2	4.00	177	14/ 15	199
STT 303	16 00.9	13 16	7.5, 8.0	1.50	167	15	200
STF 2316	18 27.2	00 11	5.4, 7.7	3.80	320	15/ 16	249/ 250
STF 2375	18 45.5	05 30	6.2, 6.6	2.50	119	15/ 16	205/ 250
STF 2417	18 56.2	04 11	4.5, 5.4	22.30	104	15/ 16	250/ 251
STF 2417	18 56.2	04 11	4.6, 7.9	414.10	56	15/ 16	250/ 251