The Hercules constellation is well placed for viewing from the northern hemisphere at this time of year. Although it does not have any really bright stars, the central four make a keystone shape that is easy to recognise.
Hercules is also easy to spot because it covers a large area of sky; it is the fifth largest of the 88 modern constellations. The chart shows the view looking south from London at midnight tonight.
Although depictions have varied across the centuries, the keystone is now general said to represent Hercules’s body. In classical mythology, Hercules was the son of the god Zeus. He was immensely strong but murderously temperamental. As atonement for his crimes, he accepted 12 tasks from the Oracle of Delphi, and the completion of these tasks elevated him to hero status.
The constellation was one of 48 originally defined by Ptolemy in the second century that now make up the bedrock of the modern complement. From the southern hemisphere, Hercules appears in the north during the evening. The farther south, the lower the constellation appears. From Sydney, Australia, for example, Hercules just rises above the northern horizon by mid to late evening.
