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Serpens (the snake) is one of the 88 modern constellationOrion is a remarkable constellation, visible from most places on the globe (but not always the whole year long). A constellation is a group of stars visibly related to each other in a particular configuration. In three-dimensional space, most of the starss, and was also one of the 48 listed by PtolemyThis article is about the geographer and astronomer Ptolemy. For Alexander the Great's general, see Ptolemy I of Egypt. For others, see Ptolemy (disambiguation). Claudius Ptolemaeus (Greek: Klaudios Ptolemaios; A. circa 85 circa 165), known in English as. Among the modern constellations it is unique in being split into two pieces, Serpens Caput (representing the head of the snake) to the west and Serpens Cauda (representing the tail) to the east. Between these two pieces lies the constellation of Ophiuchus, the serpent bearer.

1 Notable features

Since Serpens is regarded as being one constellation despite being split into two halves, the ordering of Bayer designationMany of the brighter stars are given names which are known as Bayer designations . These designations, which were introduced by Johann Bayer in his star atlas Uranometria (named after Urania) in 1603, consist of a Greek letter followed by the genitive ofs goes in order of brightness among both constellations.

Only one of the stars in Serpens is brighter than third magnitudeIn science, magnitude refers to the numerical size of something: see orders of magnitude. In mathematics, the magnitude of an object is a non-negative real number, which in simple terms is its length. In astronomy, magnitude refers to the logarithmic meas, so the constellation is not easy to perceive. α Serpentis, named Unukalhai, is in Caput. δ Serpentis, also in Caput, is a double star only 27 light-years from Earth. θ Serpentis, in Cauda, is also double.

Stars in Caput include α, β, γ, δ, ε, ι, κ, λ, μ, π, ρ, σ, τ, χ and ω Serpentis. Stars in Cauda include ζ, η, θ, ν, ξ, and ο Serpentis.