Constellation: Serpens

Serpentis Cauda and Serpentis Caput, or Serpens Cauda and Caput, are the serpents of the northern hemisphere's skies. Serpens is the only constellation that has been divided into two parts: the head, Caput, and the tail, Cauda. They are separated by the
Serpent Bearer, Ophiucus, who once joined a full constellation with the serpent, rather than splitting it down the middle.

One supposed myth involving the snake is that of Aesculapius, the first doctor of medicine. He discovered a great herb that could bring beings back to life after witnessing a dead snake be revived by a second snake after application of the herb. Hades, the God of the Underworld, did not enjoy the power that Aesculapius found in his wielding of the herb. Hades argued that only gods were to be immortal, and Aesculapius' meddling with mortality was worthy of a lightning bolt from Zeus. Zeus, unfortunately for Aesculapius, agreed, and the doctor was killed on the spot. Though the original doctor did not survive, this idea of medicines to cure the sick stuck with the rest of the world.

Major Stars:

Rho Serpentis is considered a Mira star. A Mira star is a cool giant that seems to "wink" in and out of the sky due to its varying magnitudes. The stars pulsate in periods of eighty to one thousand days, changing apparent magnitudes within a variable of 2.5 to 11 magnitudes. Rho Serpentis lays half way between Beta Serpentis and Gamma Serpentis in the Caput section of the constellation. This long-period variable has a maximum magnitude of 6.9, but fades to 13.4 within a one-year period.

Messier Objects:

M5 is one of the oldest and largest globular clusters identified by Earth's astronomers. It is imagined to be over thirteen billion years old and estimated to be around twenty six thousand light years away. This striking globular cluster was originally cataloged in 1702, but Messier independently discovered it and cataloged it again in 1764.

While M5 is absolutely beautiful on a dark night, the real star of Serpens is not a star at all, but a star-forming region. M16, or the Eagle Nebula, is one of the most famous and photogenic nebulae in the history of astrophotography. The Hubble Space Telescope has photographed it multiple times, as well as David Malin from the Anglo-Australian Observatory. It was the Hubble, however, that discovered what are now known as "The Pillars of Creation"-a magnified section of the Eagle Nebula where stars are being birthed in the nebula's nurturing gases. Astronomers describe the "Pillars" as nothing but star-birthing, gaseous clouds. The admiration of their beauty by the public, however, moves far beyond such bare, unappreciative descriptions.

M16 will dance with astronomers on a perfect night through an eight-inch telescope, and often enjoyed with an even smaller scope. The combination nebula and star cluster is stunning.
Serpens Caput moves into the meridian line on June 20th at 10:00 pm, and is followed by his sweeping tail July 20th at 10:00 pm. Be sure to drag out your eight-inch for a fine look at the Eagle Nebula. Happy star hunting!

(With help from Dave Swartz, Wikipedia, David H. Levy, David Darling, and NASA's HST)