Star profile

Zeta Ophiuchi

Variable star

3D likeness based on its real data · class O · ~30,000 K

What is Zeta Ophiuchi

Zeta Ophiuchi is the nearest O-type star to the Sun and tears through the Milky Way like a bullet: a supernova in its original binary hurled it out of the Scorpius-Centaurus association at over 100,000 km/h. In infrared light, interstellar dust traces a glowing bow shock ahead of it, an image that has become iconic. Without the veiling clouds, it would rank among the brightest stars in the night sky.

Where it is and when to see it

Zeta Ophiuchi lies in the southern 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 28° above the horizon.
From New York it culminates about 39° above the horizon.
From Sydney it culminates about 67° above the horizon.

It can be seen from anywhere south of 79° N.

It ranks no. 3 in brightness among the 88 stars of Ophiuchus in our catalogue. To find it, start from Rasalhague, the brightest: it lies about 27° away (a fist at arm's length covers about 10°).

The light you see today left it about 370 years ago.

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Astronomical data for Zeta Ophiuchi

Constellation: Ophiuchus
Apparent magnitude: 2.54
Distance: 366.1 light years
Coordinates (J2000): RA 249.290° · Dec -10.567°
Catalogue: HIP 81377 · HD 149757

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Other stars in Ophiuchus

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

See all 88 stars in Ophiuchus