Star profile

Marfik

Lambda Ophiuchi · Ophiuchus

3D likeness based on its real data · class A · ~8,500 K

What is Marfik

Marfik is the Lambda of Ophiuchus, its name derived from the Arabic «al-mirfaq», «the elbow» — designating, as one might guess, the joint of the snake-handler's arm. A white A-class star about 173 light-years away, it is a middling flame in an immense constellation stretched across the celestial equator, one the Sun briefly crosses each year even though the traditional zodiac passes it by.

Where it is and when to see it

Marfik lies in the northern celestial hemisphere. It is visible to the naked eye under a dark sky. Its best month of the year is May, when it culminates around midnight.

From London it culminates about 40° above the horizon.
From New York it culminates about 51° above the horizon.
From Sydney it culminates about 54° above the horizon.

It can be seen from anywhere north of 88° S.

It ranks no. 13 in brightness among the 88 stars of Ophiuchus in our catalogue. To find it, start from Rasalhague, the brightest: it lies about 19° away (a fist at arm's length covers about 10°).

The light you see today left it about 170 years ago.

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Astronomical data for Marfik

Constellation: Ophiuchus
Apparent magnitude: 3.82
Distance: 173.1 light years
Coordinates (J2000): RA 247.728° · Dec 1.984°
Catalogue: HIP 80883 · HD 148857

A symbolic commemorative gift: neither the signature nor the chosen name implies ownership of the star or recognition by the IAU.

Other stars in Ophiuchus

Ophiuchus has 88 stars in Stelvia's catalogue. Here are a few of them.

See all 88 stars in Ophiuchus