Hydrus constellation
Hydrus (the Lesser Water Snake) is a constellation in the southern sky, best seen in the evening in December. Its brightest star is β Hydri (magnitude 2.8). Hydrus covers 243 square degrees and is the 61st-largest of the 88 constellations.
Free to use with credit: Atlas of the Sky (constellationmap.org), CC BY 4.0 · More
Embed this image on your website
Detailed star map of Hydrus
Facts
| Latin name | Hydrus (genitive: Hydri) |
|---|---|
| Abbreviation | Hyi |
| Meaning | the Lesser Water Snake |
| Area | 243 square degrees (61st of 88) |
| Location | right ascension 2.3 h, declination −71° |
| Visible from | latitudes 8° N to 90° S (whole constellation) |
| Best month | December (at about 9 pm) |
| Brightest star | β Hydri |
| Stars brighter than magnitude 6 | 20 |
| Named stars (IAU) | none |
| Messier objects | none |
| Neighbors | Dorado, Eridanus, Horologium, Mensa, Octans, Reticulum, Tucana |
How to find Hydrus
From 40° N (the USA, southern Europe, Japan) Hydrus never rises completely above the horizon. From 35° S (Australia, South Africa, Argentina) it never sets and stands highest in the south, about 54° up. The months before and after (November and January) are also good: then it is up a couple of hours earlier or later.
Hydrus borders Dorado, Eridanus, Horologium, Mensa, Octans, Reticulum and Tucana.
Stars of Hydrus
Hydrus has 20 stars brighter than magnitude 6, the limit of the naked eye under a dark sky. These are the brightest:
| Star | Designation | Magnitude | Type | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | β Hydri | 2.8 | G2IV | — |
| — | α Hydri | 2.86 | F0V | — |
| — | γ Hydri | 3.24 | M2III | — |
| — | δ Hydri | 4.09 | A3V | — |
| — | ε Hydri | 4.11 | B9V | — |
Printable Hydrus map and outline
A black and white version for printing and a plain outline of the Hydrus figure, useful for school projects, worksheets and learning to recognize the shape.
History
Hydrus is introduced by the Dutch navigators Pieter Dirkszoon Keyser and Frederick de Houtman in the 1590s and published by Petrus Plancius and Johann Bayer. Its official boundary was drawn by Eugène Delporte for the International Astronomical Union in 1930.
Questions about Hydrus
What is the brightest star in Hydrus?
β Hydri, at magnitude 2.8.
When can you see Hydrus?
Hydrus is best seen in the evening in December. The whole constellation is visible from latitudes between 8° N and 90° S.
How many stars are in Hydrus?
20 stars in Hydrus are brighter than magnitude 6 and can be seen with the naked eye under a dark sky; none of them has an official IAU name.
What does Hydrus mean?
Hydrus means “the Lesser Water Snake” in Latin. Its abbreviation is Hyi and the genitive, used in star names such as β Hydri, is Hydri.
