Zeta Ophiuchi
Also known as zet Oph
Zeta Ophiuchi is a be star in the constellation Ophiuchus, about 720 light-years from Earth.
Runaway star ploughing a bow shock through space
Facts
| Type | Be star (spectral type O9.2IVnn) |
|---|---|
| Constellation | Ophiuchus |
| Position (J2000) | 16h 37m 09s, −10° 34′ |
| Distance | 720 light-years (its light set off about 720 years ago) |
| Brightness | magnitude 2.56 (smaller is brighter; the faintest stars the eye sees are about 6) |
| Studied in | 1,919 scientific papers (SIMBAD) |
When and how to see it
Zeta Ophiuchi is highest in the sky at midnight in May. From India (about 20° N) it climbs to about 59° above the horizon; from 50° N, to about 29°. To see it you need the naked eye, even from a town.
Heights are worked out for India and for 50° N. Set your location in Settings to see them for where you are.
For tonight's best time from your own town, the darkness and the Moon, open it on the map and see its "Tonight from your location" card.
More in Ophiuchus
- Kepler's Supernova
- M9 (NGC 6333)
- M10 (NGC 6254)
- M12 (NGC 6218)
- M14 (NGC 6402)
- M19 (NGC 6273)
- M62 (NGC 6266)
- M107 (NGC 6171)
Everything in Ophiuchus · All 88 constellations · All sky objects
Data: SIMBAD (CDS, Strasbourg; the site's weekly copy) · Data sources & credits