Ophiuchus,
the Snake Charmer
is the thirteenth of the
twelve constellations of the Zodiac. It is the forgotten constellation,
perhaps, for the Sun actually spends more time before the stars
of Ophiuchus (19 days) than it does in neighboring Scorpius (6
days). Also, the stars in this area of the sky are less than magnificent.
There are only four stars that exceed a rating of magnitude three.
Alpha, Ras Alhague, is a magnitude 2.1 star somewhat less than
midway on the line from Vega toward Antares. Eta Ophiuchi, Zeta,
and Beta follow at 2.6, 2.7 and 2.9 magnitude. These stars can
be found above Scorpius and below the stars of Hercules. Aquila
is to the east. The center of the constellation crosses the meridian
at about eleven p.m. in early July.
For binocular viewing there are six star clusters in this area
of the sky, all with Messier numbers: 9, 10, 12, 14, 19 and 62.
Another, M107, is dimmer and would require a telescope for study.
Still other globular clusters exist in this region, making 22
in all.
A number of double stars are here, too, including Sabik (Eta-Ophiuchi),
a pair of third-magnitude stars separated by one second. 70-Ophiuchi
is another interesting multiple star, which José Olivarez
has considered in his Observations column.
The colors of the stars are said to be yellow and purple. This
star system was discovered in 1779 by Sir William Herschel. It
is part of an olden asterism made up with other stars in this
region of Ophiuchus. The stars form the letter V that suggests
the Hyades in Taurus, the Bull. In 1777, a Polish astronomer,
Abbé Poczobut of Wilna, asked the French Academy to honor
the last Polish king, King Stanislaus Poniatowski, with a constellation.
The designation did not last, however, although “Poniatowski's
Bull” may still be found on some star charts.
Æsculapius was an immortal man who had been schooled by
the centaur Chiron in the arts of botany and medicine. So he was
knowledgeable of the various herbs and plants and a student of
nature. One day, it is said, he was in the house of a friend when
he killed a snake. He watched in astonishment when another snake
slithered into the room with a particular herb in its mouth and
with it restored the slain reptile to life. Recognizing the plant,
Æsculapius soon had learned to use its mystical powers to
heal the sick and resurrect the dead. It is from this history
and from the ability of a snake to cast off its skin and assume
a new revitalization that serpents have become symbols for healing.
The staff of Æsculapius, with a snake coiling about the
rod, is well known in today's medicine. Unfortunately, this symbol
is often confused with the caduceus of Mercury, which is a doubly-winged
wand entwined by two snakes. Truly, however, the symbol of Mercury
is the symbol of messengers.
Æsculapius, the first doctor, sailed on the famous voyage
of the Argonauts in search of the Golden Fleece. Following the
journey, he continued to heal the sick and to advance the practice
of medicine. On the death of Orion, he was about to attempt to
restore the life of this great hero when Pluto, lord of the underworld,
intervened. Pluto reasoned that his realm would decline if Æsculapius
were allowed to revive the dead. He appealed to his brother Jupiter
to agree that death should be the ultimate end of mortal man,
not to be trifled with even by the most skilled of physicians.
Jupiter, king of the gods, struck Æsculapius with a thunderbolt
and ended his life on Earth. But in tribute to the accomplishments
and skill of the great physician, Jupiter placed him among the
stars, where today he is known as Ophiuchus, the Serpent Bearer.
Antiquated star maps show a larger constellation, depicting the
physician clutching the serpent that wraps about his body or shoulders.
Now, however, the serpent itself is represented and is given two
identities. Stars to the west are those of the head, Serpens Caput,
while the tail section, Serpens Cauda, writhes eastward toward
Aquila, above the shield of Scutum.
One of the most interesting objects that you can't see in Ophiuchus
is the Pipe nebula. On dark, clear nights you won't see it because
this absorption nebula lies in front of the spectacular Milky
Way. It is one of the largest dark-cloud formations that can (cannot?)
be seen from the Northern Hemisphere.
From the crisp, clear
skies of the “Legendary White Mountain Star Party,”
Axel Mellinger photographed the Pipe Nebula south of Theta-Ophiuchi,
above the tail of Scorpius. He used a 135-mm lens and Kodak Ektapress
Multispeed PJM film.
Please find a remarkable collection of Axel's work at his site:
http://moore4.cchem.berkeley.edu/~axel/.
Ophiuchus, not so well
known as neighboring Scorpius or Sagittarius of the Zodiac constellations,
has much to draw your attention during summer evenings.