Dictionary term
Ras Algethi
Direct answer
Ras Algethi is Alpha Herculis, a variable red supergiant in a multiple system marking the head of Hercules.
Ras Algethi is Hercules's warm-colored head star near Rasalhague.
Ras Algethi is Hercules's warm-colored head star near Rasalhague.
A symbolic locator, not a substitute for an observational chart at a specific place and time.Quick reference
- Use when
- Find the close naked-eye neighborhood of Rasalhague, then use a telescope to separate Ras Algethi's components.
- Do not use it for
- Alpha Herculis is not Hercules's brightest visible star; Bayer letters do not always rank brightness.
- Reference category
- Constellations & Star Lore
- Related terms
- Enif, Rasalhague, Kochab, Pherkad
The Chapter · Mystery School
Learn to read the sky for yourself
A mystery school of astrology with a worldwide chapter: letters on the chart and the soul, readings under one sky, and a rule of honesty about what the stars can and cannot say.
- The founding letter, with what the school studies and how it meets
- First word each season, when the doors open
- A seat at the gatherings, wherever in the world you are
Reading about Ras Algethi? The chapter is where readers like you meet.
Founding circle · forming now
The list costs nothing. Word of the school and its gatherings, nothing else. Unsubscribe at any time.
The story behind Ras Algethi
Its Arabic-derived name means head of the kneeler, preserving Hercules's older “Kneeling One” identity.
Ras Algethi in spiritual tradition
Ras Algethi places age, color, and multiplicity at the head of an ancient hero.
Ras Algethi: fact and faith, kept distinct
This is a factual sky reference. It can support wonder and orientation without turning a measured position or inherited pattern into a claim of fate or private revelation.
Ras Algethi in numerology
Ras Algethi is not a numerology claim. Any numbers attached to it should retain their ordinary scientific, calendrical, navigational, or historical meaning unless a separate symbolic interpretation is clearly labeled.
Why Ras Algethi matters
Its cool giant primary and contrasting companion make it a rewarding object for stellar-color study.
Ras Algethi at work: an example
The primary appears orange-red beside a bluer companion at suitable magnification.
Where interpretation stops
Ras Algethi is presented as sourced astronomy, calendrical, Earth-science, cultural, or instrument-history reference. Definitions should distinguish measured phenomena from civil convention and historical interpretation, preserve location and time dependencies, and avoid turning factual sky data into a deterministic personal claim.
Sources and editorial method
Research references used for this entry include:
- IAU Division C Working Group on Star Names - Official IAU working group responsible for standardizing star names used in international astronomy.
- CDS SIMBAD Astronomical Database - Professional astronomical database for stellar identifiers, positions, classifications, and bibliography.
- Source
- The Great Almanac Dictionary
- Category
- Constellations & Star Lore
- Also appears in
- Constellations & Star Lore
- Aliases
- None listed
- Last updated
- 2026-07-16
Resolve the head of the Kneeler
Ras Algethi in a book is one thing; Ras Algethi in your own birth chart is your life. The Oracle casts your real chart and tells you what it means for your love, your work, and your year ahead, in conversation, free.
Speak with the OracleRelated terms
More in Constellations & Star Lore
Common questions
What is Ras Algethi?
Ras Algethi is Alpha Herculis, a variable red supergiant in a multiple system marking the head of Hercules.
How is Ras Algethi used in an almanac?
Find the close naked-eye neighborhood of Rasalhague, then use a telescope to separate Ras Algethi's components.
What should I avoid when interpreting Ras Algethi?
Alpha Herculis is not Hercules's brightest visible star; Bayer letters do not always rank brightness.
