Tau

Its story

Tau Ophiuchi is a white A-type star in the region of Ophiuchus, the serpent-bearer, a constellation the Sun crosses for a few days in November and December —ignored by traditional astrology but recognised by modern astronomy. Its light has been travelling for nearly 170 years before reaching us. It inhabits an area of sky deeply tied to the summer Milky Way, dense with globular clusters and dark nebulae.