What it looks like
Hercules is the fifth-largest constellation in the sky, spanning the region between Lyra and Boötes. It is drawn as the hero kneeling with one foot on Draco's head. The central Keystone — a four-star trapezoid — marks his body and guides observers to M13, the finest globular cluster in the northern sky.
Brightest stars
Hercules has no first-magnitude stars; its brightest, Kornephoros, sits just below magnitude 3.
| Star | Magnitude | Distance | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kornephoros (β Herculis) | +2.78 | 139 ly | Club Bearer |
| Zeta Herculis | +2.81 | 35 ly | — |
| Pi Herculis | +3.16 | 377 ly | — |
| Rasalgethi (α Herculis) | +3.35 | 360 ly | Head of the Kneeler |
Mythology and history
In Greek myth, Hercules is Heracles, the hero of twelve labours who was granted immortality and placed in the stars by Zeus.
The twelve labours
Heracles was the son of Zeus and Alcmene, driven mad by Hera and forced to serve King Eurystheus, for whom he performed twelve impossible labours. After a life of adventure and suffering, he was fatally poisoned by the shirt of Nessus, but Zeus raised him to Olympus as a god. The constellation shows him kneeling, club raised, standing on the head of Draco the Dragon — one of the labours he never completed in life.
How to find it
Look for the Keystone, a tight trapezoid of four stars, between bright Arcturus and Vega on summer evenings.
- Find the Keystone first; M13 sits on its western edge.
- Use Arcturus and Vega as brackets to locate it.
- Best on summer evenings from the northern hemisphere.
Key facts
- Abbreviation
- Her
- Genitive
- Herculis
- Meaning
- The Strongman
- Brightest star
- Kornephoros
- Main stars
- 14
- Area rank
- 5th
- Best visible
- July
- Declination
- +30°
- Meteor showers
- Tau Herculids
- Neighbours
- Draco, Boötes, Corona Borealis, Serpens Caput, Ophiuchus, Aquila, Sagitta, Vulpecula, Lyra
Deep-sky objects
The Great Globular Cluster M13 contains roughly 300,000 stars and is visible to the naked eye under dark skies. The constellation also contains M92, another fine globular cluster, and the Hercules Cluster (Abell 2151), a galaxy cluster.
Frequently asked questions
What does the constellation Hercules look like?
Hercules is a large northern constellation representing the Greek hero, marked by the Keystone asterism and home to the globular cluster M13.
What is the brightest star in Hercules?
The brightest star in Hercules is Kornephoros, shining at around magnitude 2.78.
When is Hercules best visible?
Hercules is best seen from both hemispheres during July.
What is the story behind Hercules?
In Greek myth, Hercules is Heracles, the hero of twelve labours who was granted immortality and placed in the stars by Zeus.
Which constellations are near Hercules?
Hercules borders Draco, Boötes, Corona Borealis, Serpens Caput, Ophiuchus, Aquila, Sagitta, Vulpecula and Lyra.
Lyra
Boötes