Star lore
Serpens
Direct answer
Serpens is the only official constellation divided into two noncontiguous regions, Serpens Caput and Serpens Cauda, around Ophiuchus.
Serpens is the Serpent, split into a head and tail held by Ophiuchus.
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At a glance
- Found in
- Constellations & Star Lore
- Related
- Sculptor, Scutum, Sextans, Taurus Constellation
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The story behind Serpens
Ptolemy catalogued the serpent with its bearer; modern astronomy counts Serpens as one constellation in two pieces.
A one-minute story
The Road of the Sun
Where the twelve signs came from, and why they carry the names they do.
Why Serpens matters
Serpens’s unusual geometry demonstrates that constellation boundaries can preserve a traditional figure without forming one continuous area.
How to read Serpens
Find Serpens Caput west of Ophiuchus and Serpens Cauda extending east toward Aquila.
Serpens in practice: an example
The Eagle Nebula, M16, lies in Serpens Cauda and contains the star-forming Pillars of Creation.
Where readings of Serpens go wrong
Caput and Cauda are not separate IAU constellations and should not be counted twice.
Sources and editorial method
Research references used for this entry include:
- International Astronomical Union: The Constellations - Official names, abbreviations, and boundaries for the 88 modern constellations.
- NASA Space Place: What Are Constellations? - NASA introduction to constellation regions, patterns, visibility, and seasonal sky changes.
- Source
- The Great Almanac Dictionary
- Category
- Constellations & Star Lore
- Last updated
- 2026-09-26
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Common questions
What is Serpens?
Serpens is the only official constellation divided into two noncontiguous regions, Serpens Caput and Serpens Cauda, around Ophiuchus.
What do people get wrong about Serpens?
Caput and Cauda are not separate IAU constellations and should not be counted twice.
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