Serpens

Serpens is a constellation in the northern celestial hemisphere, one of the 88 modern constellations defined by the International Astronomical Union. The name is Latin for the serpent. It is unique among the classical figures for being split into two non-contiguous parts: Serpens Caput (the head) and Serpens Cauda (the tail).

These two sections are separated by the bright constellation Ophiuchus and together form the shape of a snake. In myth, the serpent is linked to Ophiuchus, the serpent-bearer, and the two halves reflect the creature's length along the sky.

Serpens has a long history in astronomy. It was listed by Ptolemy in the Almagest and reaffirmed as a single constellation in the modern 88.

Observers can locate Serpens near the Milky Way, with the two parts straddling the ecliptic region near Ophiuchus. It is visible from most inhabited latitudes; in the northern hemisphere it is best seen during the summer evenings.

The brightest star is Unukalhai (Alpha Serpentis). The region contains several notable deep-sky objects, including star-forming regions and dark nebulae within the Serpens Cloud Core.