Constellations of Serpens and Ophiuchus - Constellations of Serpens and Ophiuchus - The constellation of...

Constellations of Serpens and Ophiuchus - Constellations of Serpens and Ophiuchus - The constellation of Ophiuchus separates the constellation of the Serpent into two parts. Serpens, the Serpent, is an ancient constellation, unique in being formed from two separate sections, Serpens Caput (the head of the snake) to the west and Serpens Cauda (the tail) to the east. Between them lies the constellation of Ophiuchus, the serpent holder, who is usually identified with the ancient Greek physician Asclepius, around whose shoulders or staff a snake is draped. The stars in both parts of Serpens are mostly quite faint and a snake - like shape is hard to pick out in either section. Serpens Cauda is probably easier to locate since it occupies the dusty part of the Milky Way adjoining the brighter star clouds of Scutum and Aquila