The constellation of Serpens, the Snake // E. Slawik/NOIRLab/NSF/AURA/M. Zamani
The top is the head of the snake, Serpens Caput, and the bottom is the tail of the snake, Serpens Cauda.
Click below to read some more info about why this constellation is split in two as well as an annotated image!
Serpens, which is Latin for "snake," is one of the original constellations listed by the Greek astronomer Ptolemy in the 2nd century. It is unique, being the only constellation split into two parts: Serpens Caput (Latin for "head of the snake") and Serpens Cauda (Latin for "tail of the snake"). Between these two parts is Ophiuchus, the Snake-Bearer.
These two constellations come from the Greek myth of Asclepius, a healer, represented by Ophiuchus. Asclepius once killed a snake, but it was resurrected after a second snake gave it a revival herb (like in Pokemon!). Asclepius would go around reviving and healing people using the same technique he witnessed.
The named stars in Serpens are, in order of brightness:
Unukalhai (α Serpentis) is an orange giant star in Serpens Caput. It is a solitary star about 74 light years away. The name comes from the Arabic phrase unuq al-ḥayyah meaning "the serpent's neck."
Zhou (β Serpentis) is a binary star system in Serpens Caput. The system lies about 155 light years away, consisting of a blue-white giant and a red dwarf. Its name comes from Chinese astronomy. This part of the sky formed the constellation Tiān Shì Yòu Yuán (天市右垣) meaning "Right Wall of Heavenly Market Enclosure." The star itself had wu appended, indicating it was the fifth star of this constellation, with the common name Zhou, referring to the dynasty.
Gudja (κ Serpentis) is a solitary red giant star in Serpens Caput. It lies about 383 light years away. Its name comes from the Wardaman people in Australia, a name that means "water goanna," a type of lizard found there.
Alya (θ¹ Serpentis) is a binary star system in Serpens Cauda. The system consists of two blue-white giants about 133 light years away. The name comes from the Arabic word alyah meaning "fat tail (of a sheep)."
Alasia (HD 168746) is a Sun-like star about 136 light years away in Serpens Cauda. It has one confirmed exoplanet orbiting it, at least a quarter the mass of Jupiter, named Onasilos. Both names were given by the people of Cyprus: Alasia is an ancient name for Cyprus, while Onasilos is an ancient Cypriot physician.
Kaveh (HD 175541) is a Sun-like star about 427 light years away in Serpens Cauda. It has one confirmed exoplanet orbiting it, at least half the mass of Jupiter, named Kavian. Both names were given by the people of Iran: Kaveh is one of the heroes of the Iranian epic Shahnameh, while Kavian is the name of the banner Kaveh carries into battle.
