Ophiuchus is a large
constellation located around the
celestial equator. Its name is from the
Greek "
serpent-bearer", and it is commonly represented as a man grasping the snake that is represented by the constellation
Serpens. Ophiuchus was one of the 48 constellations listed by the 2nd-century astronomer
Ptolemy, and it remains one of the 88 modern constellations. It was formerly referred to as
Serpentarius and
Anguitenens.