Home > Constellations, Ephemeris Program, Mythology, Observing > Ephemeris: 06/19/2025 – Finding the Serpent Bearer in the heavens

Ephemeris: 06/19/2025 – Finding the Serpent Bearer in the heavens

June 19, 2025

This is Ephemeris for Juneteenth, Thursday, June 19th. Today the Sun will be up for 15 hours and 34 minutes, setting at 9:31, and it will rise tomorrow at 5:57. The Moon, 1 day past last quarter, will rise at 2:15 tomorrow morning.

The red star Antares shines low in the south-southeast at 11 PM in the constellation of Scorpius. In the area of sky above and to the left lies a large constellation of faint stars called Ophiuchus, the serpent bearer. The constellation shape is like a large bell, which reminds me of the head, shoulders and arms of a fellow that’s holding the snake stretched out across his body. The serpent he’s holding is Serpens, the only two-part constellation in the heavens. The head rises to Ophiuchus’ right, and the tail extends up to the left. In Greek myth, Ophiuchus represents the great physician Aesculapius, educated by the god Apollo, and the centaur Chiron, who is found in the stars as Sagittarius, just rising below him.

The astronomical event times given in this blog are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan (Lat 44.7° N, Long 85.7° W; EDT, UT – 4 hours) unless stated otherwise. Times will be different for other locations.

Addendum

Ophiuchus finder chart in three frames
An Ophiuchus finder chart in three frames: showing first, the stars as one would see it in the night sky; second, the constellation lines; and third, the constellation art from Stellarium. The location of the stars are for approximately 11 PM. Created using Stellarium and GIMP.
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