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Serpens

Serpens

Serpens (Ancient Greek: Ὄφις, romanizedÓphis, lit. 'the Serpent') is a constellation in the northern celestial hemisphere. One of the 48 constellations listed by the 2nd-century astronomer Ptolemy, it remains one of the 88 modern constellations designated by the International Astronomical Union. It is unique among the modern constellations in being split into two non-contiguous parts, Serpens Caput (Serpent Head) to the west and Serpens Cauda (Serpent Tail) to the east. Between these two halves lies the constellation of Ophiuchus, the "Serpent-Bearer". In figurative representations, the body of the serpent is represented as passing behind Ophiuchus between Mu Serpentis in Serpens Caput and Nu Serpentis in Serpens Cauda.


Source: Wikipedia

Image source: IAU and Sky & Telescope magazine (Roger Sinnott & Rick Fienberg)

TM.jpg

Gallery

Serpens Mosaic
Serpens Mosaic (feat. M16 & M17)

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