Hercules
The mighty hero kneeling in summer
Best on June–August evenings · northern sky.
Hercules is one of the largest constellations in the sky, yet it lacks the brilliant stars its heroic reputation might lead you to expect. Sitting in the northern sky between the bright stars Vega and Corona Borealis, it is best known for a distinctive four-star pattern at its core called the Keystone, which traces the hero's torso as he kneels across the sky.
How to find it
On summer evenings from the northern hemisphere, look high overhead and find brilliant blue-white Vega. About a quarter of the way from Vega toward the bright orange star Arcturus, you will find a distinct off-center quadrilateral of stars — that is the Keystone, the heart of Hercules. Once you have that box, the arms and legs of the hero fan outward from each corner.
Brightest stars
The constellation's brightest star is Kornephoros, the beta star, glowing at magnitude 2.77 — modest but steady, marking the hero's shoulder. Sarin (δ Her) comes in next at magnitude 3.14, followed by the famous orange-red Rasalgethi (α¹ Her) at magnitude 3.48, a giant star that marks the hero's head.
Worth seeing
Rasalgethi is the most striking individual star here — a deep orange-red giant sitting right at the border with Ophiuchus, vivid in color even to the naked eye and a rewarding target in binoculars.
Frequently asked
When is Hercules visible?
Summer evenings, roughly June through August, when it rides high in the northern sky for northern hemisphere observers. It is best placed overhead in midsummer.
What are the brightest stars in Hercules?
Kornephoros (magnitude 2.77) is the brightest, followed by Sarin at 3.14 and the colorful orange-red Rasalgethi at 3.48. None are especially brilliant, but the Keystone pattern they help frame is easy to learn.
Which hemisphere is Hercules best seen from?
The northern hemisphere, where it climbs high overhead on summer evenings. Southern hemisphere observers can spot it low in the northern sky during their winter months, but it never rises very high.
Nearby constellations
Lyra · Serpens · Boötes · Ophiuchus · Cygnus · Aquila · Draco · Delphinus