Hercules (constellation)

Hercules
Constellation
Hercules
AbbreviationHer
GenitiveHerculis[1]
Pronunciation/ˈhɜːrkjʊlz/,
genitive /ˈhɜːrkjʊlɪs/
SymbolismHeracles
Right ascension17h
Declination+30°
QuadrantNQ3
Area1225 sq. deg. (5th)
Main stars14, 22
Bayer/Flamsteed
stars
106
Stars with planets15
Stars brighter than 3.00m2
Stars within 10.00 pc (32.62 ly)9
Brightest starβ Her (Kornephoros) (2.78m)
Messier objects2
Meteor showersTau Herculids
Bordering
constellations
Draco
Boötes
Corona Borealis
Serpens Caput
Ophiuchus
Aquila
Sagitta
Vulpecula
Lyra[1]
Visible at latitudes between +90° and −50°.
Best visible at 21:00 (9 p.m.) during the month of July.

Hercules is a constellation named after Hercules, the Roman mythological hero adapted from the Greek hero Heracles. Hercules was one of the 48 constellations listed by the second-century astronomer Ptolemy, and it remains one of the 88 modern constellations today. It is the fifth-largest of the modern constellations and is the largest of the 50 which have no stars brighter than apparent magnitude +2.5.

  1. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference thompson2 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).