Hercules, the hero, is a jewel of the summer skies but one that requires a little bit of sleuthing to track down. The chart shows the view looking high in the southern sky from London at 11pm on Monday. The view, however, remains essentially unchanged all week.
The easiest way to locate Hercules is to identify the bright star Vega in Lyra, the lyre, and orange Arcturus in Boötes, the herdsman. Hercules lies between these beacons. Look for the four modest stars that form a lop-sided square: this is the keystone asterism, marking the body of Hercules.
From there, you can trace the hero’s arms and legs, and realise just how big the constellation is. Of the 88 modern constellations recognised by the International Astronomical Union, Hercules is the fifth largest by area.
In Greek mythology, Heracles – the name Hercules is the Roman equivalent – was the son of Zeus and the mortal Alcmene. In an attempt to tame his volatile nature, he was set 12 labours by King Eurystheus. These tasks took him to distant lands and the underworld.
Hercules was one of the 48 constellations listed by Ptolemy in the second century. From the southern hemisphere, it can be seen low in the northern sky during the evening.
