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public Observing fromLocation: Greenwich, United Kingdom edit_location_alt
SunriseRise: 6:04  
clear_day Transit: 12:06  
SunsetSet: 18:09
sunny DaytimeWhat's Visible Now?
All Constellations » 

Hercules (The Hercules) Constellation

Altitude: 64.7°   Azimuth: 203.9°   Direction: South-South-West

Hercules (pronounced ˈhɜːrkjʊliːz) is the Latin name of a large constellation (in fact it extends itself for about 57 degrees across the sky) situated north of the celestial equator. As such, it is more easily visible from the northern hemisphere.

In English language this constellation is also known as "The Hercules" while in astronomical texts and literature this constellation is often abbreviated as "Her" (according to the standard of the International Astronomical Union - IAU) or as "Herc" (according to a naming convention used by NASA).

The Latin genitive of the constellation name is "Herculis" (pronounced ˈhɜːrkjʊlɪs) and it is used to identify some of the brightest stars in this constellation based on the Bayer or Flamsteed star naming convention. For instance: α Herculis (the brightest star of Hercules based on the Bayer catalog); or 23 Herculis (the 23th star in the constellation of Hercules based on the Flamsteed catalog).

Hercules is above the horizon from Greenwich, United Kingdom edit_location_alt. Altitude: 65°.
Available Resources for Hercules

Sky Chart of Hercules Constellation

Here we provide a simplified sky chart of the Hercules constellation. Alternatively it is possible to locate Hercules in the night sky using our Online Interactive Planetarium.

Chart of  constellation
This constellation image is derivatve work based on original work by IAU and Sky & Telescope magazine (Roger Sinnott & Rick Fienberg) CC-BY-3.0.

Visibility of Hercules Constellation

Location: Greenwich, United Kingdom edit_location_alt
Latitude: 51° 28’ 47” N
Longitude: 0° 00’ 00” E
Timezone: Europe/London

Today's Hercules rise, transit and set times from Greenwich, United Kingdom edit_location_alt are the following (all times relative to the local timezone Europe/London):

Azimuth: 62.4°
Max altitude: 66.1°
Azimuth: 297.6°
Hercules is above the horizon from Greenwich, United Kingdom

The rise and set times provided here are just directional indications and they refer to a point approximately placed at the center of the constellation. In case of very large constellations (like Hercules actually is) these times can have little relevance.

Bright Stars in Hercules Constellation

The table below lists the top 20 brightest stars in the Hercules constellation. See also the complete list of 259 stars brighter than magnitude 6.5 (approximate) in the constellation of Hercules. Click on each star to see more details about it.

HR Number(*) Star designation Proper name Visual magnitude Color Notes
HR6148 β Herculis Kornephoros 2.77 Variable; Double;
HR6212 ζ Herculis 2.81 Variable; Double;
HR6410 δ Herculis Sarin 3.14 Variable; Multiple;
HR6418 π Herculis 3.16 Variable;
HR6623 μ Herculis 3.42 Multiple;
HR6406 α1 Herculis Rasalgethi 3.48 Variable; Multiple;
HR6220 η Herculis 3.53 Variable; Double;
HR6703 ξ Herculis 3.7 Variable;
HR6095 γ Herculis 3.75 Variable; Multiple;
HR6588 ι Herculis 3.8 Variable; Double;
HR6779 ο Herculis 3.83 Variable;
HR6895 109 Herculis 3.84 Variable; Double;
HR6695 θ Herculis 3.86 Variable;
HR6092 τ Herculis 3.89 Variable; Double;
HR6324 ε Herculis 3.92
HR7061 110 Herculis 4.19 Variable; Multiple;
HR6168 σ Herculis 4.2 Variable; Double;
HR6023 φ Herculis 4.26 Variable;
HR6787 102 Herculis 4.36 Double;
HR7069 111 Herculis 4.36 Multiple;
...go to the complete list of 259 bright stars in the constellation of Hercules

(*) HR stands for Harvard Revised Bright Star Catalogue, which is also known as the Yale Catalogue of Bright Stars.

Deep Sky Objects in Hercules Constellation

The table below lists the 20 brightest deep sky objects in the Hercules constellation. See also the complete list of 311 deep sky objects in the constellation of Hercules. The list includes objects from the Messier, New General Catalogue (NGC) and Index Catalogue (IC).

Name Type Magnitude
Messier 13 (Hercules Globular Cluster) Globular Cluster 5.8 (V)
Messier 92 Globular Cluster 6.52 (V)
NGC 6210 Planetary Nebula 9.65 (V)
NGC 6229 Globular Cluster 9.86 (V)
IC 4593 Planetary Nebula 10.7 (V)
NGC 6482 Galaxy 11.45 (V)
NGC 6207 Galaxy 11.65 (V)
NGC 6166 Galaxy 11.78 (V)
NGC 6389 Galaxy 12.39 (V)
NGC 6239 Galaxy 12.45 (V)
NGC 6574 Galaxy 12.5 (B)
NGC 6500 Galaxy 12.54 (V)
NGC 6555 Galaxy 12.7 (B)
NGC 6181 Galaxy 12.7 (B)
NGC 6599 Galaxy 12.82 (V)
NGC 6058 Planetary Nebula 12.9 (V)
NGC 6052 NED01 Galaxy 13 (V)
NGC 6550 Galaxy 13.1 (B)
NGC 6632 Galaxy 13.2 (B)
NGC 6155 Galaxy 13.2 (B)
...go to the complete list of 311 deep sky objects in the constellation of Hercules