Star profile

Zeta Serpens

3D likeness based on its real data · class F · ~6,500 K

What is Zeta Serpens

Zeta Serpentis shines about 77 light-years away in the tail of the Serpent —Serpens Cauda—, one of the two halves into which the ancient celestial snake appears split by Ophiuchus. It is a yellow-white F-type star, somewhat hotter and brighter than the Sun, in full stellar maturity. Its light, which set out as the twentieth century began, today crosses the gaze of anyone tracing the two separated streamers across the northern summer sky.

Where it is and when to see it

Zeta Serpens lies in the southern celestial hemisphere. It is visible to the naked eye under a dark sky. Its best month of the year is June, when it culminates around midnight.

From London it culminates about 35° above the horizon.
From New York it culminates about 46° above the horizon.
From Sydney it culminates about 60° above the horizon.

It can be seen from anywhere south of 86° N.

It ranks no. 14 in brightness among the 65 stars of Serpens in our catalogue. To find it, start from Unukalhai, the brightest: it lies about 35° away (a fist at arm's length covers about 10°).

The light you see today left it about 77 years ago.

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A public signature from a real person. The chosen name is a symbolic denomination within Stelvia, with no official standing or IAU recognition: the sky is not for sale and belongs to no one.

Astronomical data for Zeta Serpens

Constellation: Serpens
Apparent magnitude: 4.62
Distance: 76.8 light years
Coordinates (J2000): RA 270.121° · Dec -3.690°
Catalogue: HIP 88175 · HD 164259

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Other stars in Serpens

Serpens has 65 stars in Stelvia's catalogue. Here are a few of them.

See all 65 stars in Serpens