Hydra (constellation)
Hydra is a constellation that has parts in the northern sky and parts in the southern sky. It is the biggest constellation. It represents a water snake. The astronomer named Ptolemy listed Hydra when he made a list of 48 constellations.[1] It is also one of the 88 modern constellations that were made by the International Astronomical Union.
 Click for larger image | |
| List of stars in Hydra | |
| Abbreviation: | Hya |
| Genitive: | Hydrae |
| Symbology: | |
| Right ascension: | 8–15 h |
| Declination: | −20° |
| Area: | 1303 sq. deg. (1st) |
| Main stars: | 17 |
| Bayer/Flamsteed stars: | 75 |
| Stars known to have planets: | 16 |
| Bright stars: | 2 |
| Nearby stars: | 4 |
| Brightest star: | Alphard (α Hya) (1.98m) |
| Nearest star: | LHS 3003 ( ly) |
| Messier objects: | 3 |
| Meteor showers: |
|
| Bordering constellations: | |
| Visible at latitudes between +54° and −83° Best visible at 21:00 (9 p.m.) during the month of April | |
Even though Hydra is a very big constellation, it only has one bright star. This star is named Alphard. Alphard means "the solitary one" in Arabic. Hydra actually has little to identify it exept for a cluster of stars at its head.
Hydra (constellation) Media
Hydra and surrounding constellations, from Urania's Mirror (1825).
The constellation Hydra as it can be seen by the naked eye.
Planetary nebula Abell 33 captured using ESO's Very Large Telescope.
Ancient globular cluster NGC 6535.
NGC 2865 is relatively youthful and dynamic, with a rapidly rotating disc full of young stars and metal-rich gas.
References
- ↑ Ridpath, Ian. "Chapter One Continued". Star Tales. Retrieved 4 Feb 2013.
