Star lore
Unukalhai
Direct answer
Unukalhai is Alpha Serpentis, an orange giant marking the neck or heart of Serpens Caput.
Unukalhai is the brightest star in the head half of the divided Serpent.
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At a glance
- Found in
- Constellations & Star Lore
- Related
- Zubenelgenubi, Zubeneschamali, Sadr, Albireo
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The story behind Unukalhai
Unukalhai’s Arabic-derived name refers to the serpent's neck, directly locating it in the inherited figure.
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Why Unukalhai matters
Unukalhai provides a much-needed anchor for tracing Serpens on the western side of Ophiuchus.
How to read Unukalhai
Find it southwest of Rasalhague and use the surrounding curved line to map Serpens Caput.
Unukalhai in practice: an example
Unukalhai’s warm orange color contrasts with the whiter stars winding around the serpent's head.
Where readings of Unukalhai go wrong
Unukalhai belongs to Serpens Caput; the constellation's tail is a disconnected region east of Ophiuchus.
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
- Last updated
- 2026-09-26
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Common questions
What is Unukalhai?
Unukalhai is Alpha Serpentis, an orange giant marking the neck or heart of Serpens Caput.
What do people get wrong about Unukalhai?
Unukalhai belongs to Serpens Caput; the constellation's tail is a disconnected region east of Ophiuchus.
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