The Constellation Directory

Abbreviation: Her
Genitive: Herculis
Position: Northern Hemisphere
Best seen: July at 21:00
Constellation family: Hercules
Nearest constellations: Aquila, Boötes, Corona Borealis, Draco, Lyra, Ophiuchus, Sagitta, Serpens, and Vulpecula
Right ascension: 17.33h
Declination: 29.90°
Visible between latitudes: +90° and -50°
Square degrees: 1225
Luminary: Kornephoros (Beta Herculis)
Named stars: Kornephoros, Rasalgethi
Notable deep sky objects: M13 (NGC 6205), M92 (NGC 6341), Abell 39

About

Hercules is the fifth-largest constellation in the sky, although it is composed of relatively dim stars. It is best seen in July in the Northern Hemisphere.

Hercules contains M13, a globular cluster of approximately 300,000 stars that appears as a faint spot of light to the naked eye. It is considered to be one of the finest clusters in the northern hemisphere.

Four stars in Hercules (Eta, Pi, Epsilon, and Zeta Herculis) form an asterism called the Keystone. It is a roughly square arrangement of stars that denotes Hercules' pelvis and torso.

Mythology

Hercules is the Roman name for the Greek hero Heracles. Heracles was named after his mother Hera, wife and sister of Zeus, although Heracles was actually the son of Zeus and a mortal woman named Alcmene. While Heracles' name translates to "the glory of Hera", Hera hated him for being the illegitimate son of Zeus and sent two snakes into his crib when he was a baby in an attempt to murder him. Heracles, however, proved his strength at an early age and killed both of the snakes with his bare hands.

Hera persisted in her attempts to thwart Hercules as he grew older. At one point, she made him insane to the point where he killed his wife and children, after which he was given twelve tasks—known as the Twelve Labors of Hercules—to complete as punishment for his actions. Four of the monsters Hercules had to face during his Twelve Labors are also represented as constellations: Cancer, Draco, Hydra, and Leo.