This week, stargazers are invited to seek out another large but faint constellation: Ophiuchus, the serpent bearer. One of the original 48 constellations catalogued by Ptolemy in the 2nd century, it lies opposite Orion, the hunter, in the sky. The view looking south from London at 11pm BST on 29 June 2026 is depicted in the accompanying star chart.
Moon in the Teapot
Although the view remains essentially unchanged all week, on this particular evening a nearly full moon sits squarely in the teapot asterism of Sagittarius, the archer. This alignment provides a convenient marker for locating the surrounding constellations.
Mythological Backgrounds
In classical Greek mythology, Ophiuchus represents Apollo wrestling with the serpent that guarded the Oracle at Delphi. The Roman version is completely different: Ophiuchus is Asclepius, who learned the secrets of immortality by watching a serpent treat another with healing compounds made from herbs. To prevent humans from gaining this godly power, Zeus killed Asclepius with a bolt of lightning.
Constellation Structure
The constellation bisects Serpens, the serpent: to the west of Ophiuchus is Serpens Caput, the head of the serpent; to the east is Serpens Cauda, the serpent's tail. This unique arrangement makes Ophiuchus one of the few constellations that is split into two separate parts by another.
Visibility from Both Hemispheres
Straddling the celestial equator, Ophiuchus is easily visible from both hemispheres. From Sydney, for example, it is well placed in the northern sky at this time of year. Observers in the southern hemisphere can look north to catch a glimpse of this serpent bearer.
