Hercules

Hercules is the fifth-largest constellation in the sky, named after the Roman equivalent of the Greek hero Heracles. While it lacks extremely bright stars, it contains the Great Globular Cluster (M13), one of the finest globular clusters in the northern sky, containing about 300,000 stars. The solar apex — the direction our solar system is moving through the galaxy — lies within Hercules.

The Hercules family includes constellations associated with the legendary strongman and his twelve labors. It is the second-largest constellation family after Ursa Major, encompassing much of the summer sky visible from northern latitudes. Hercules himself is the fifth-largest constellation by area, though none of his stars are brighter than third magnitude — a fitting irony for such a famous figure.

Mythology & History

Heracles (Hercules in Roman tradition) was the greatest of Greek heroes, a son of Zeus known for his extraordinary strength. His twelve labors — from slaying the Nemean Lion to capturing Cerberus — are reflected in several constellations. The constellation Hercules is depicted kneeling, and its central asterism, the Keystone, represents the hero's torso. Associated constellations include Hydra (the multi-headed serpent), Sagitta (the arrow), Lyra (Orpheus's lyre, a fellow Argonaut), and Aquila (Zeus's eagle). Corona Borealis, the Northern Crown, was Ariadne's wedding crown placed in the sky by Dionysus.

Observation Tips

Hercules family constellations dominate the summer sky. The Keystone asterism in Hercules contains M13, the Great Hercules Cluster — one of the finest globular clusters in the northern sky, containing over 300,000 stars visible as a fuzzy patch to the naked eye. Lyra hosts Vega, the fifth-brightest star in the sky and a vertex of the Summer Triangle. The Ring Nebula (M57) between Beta and Gamma Lyrae is a favorite planetary nebula for amateur astronomers.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Hercules constellation?
Hercules (Her) is one of the 88 IAU-recognized constellations in the Northern hemisphere. Hercules is the fifth-largest constellation in the sky, named after the Roman equivalent of the Greek hero Heracles. While it lacks extremely bright stars, it contains the Great Globular Cluster (M13)
How many stars are cataloged in Hercules?
StarFYI currently catalogs 3,433 stars in the constellation Hercules.
What is the brightest star in Hercules?
The brightest star in Hercules is Kornephoros.
How large is the Hercules constellation?
Hercules covers 1225.15 square degrees of the sky.
What family does Hercules belong to?
Hercules belongs to the Hercules Family of constellations.