Lepus constellation
Lepus (the Hare) is a constellation in the southern sky, best seen in the evening in January. Its brightest star is Arneb (magnitude 2.58). Lepus covers 290 square degrees and is the 51st-largest of the 88 constellations.
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Detailed star map of Lepus
Facts
| Latin name | Lepus (genitive: Leporis) |
|---|---|
| Abbreviation | Lep |
| Meaning | the Hare |
| Area | 290 square degrees (51st of 88) |
| Location | right ascension 5.6 h, declination −19° |
| Visible from | latitudes 63° N to 90° S (whole constellation) |
| Best month | January (at about 9 pm) |
| Brightest star | Arneb |
| Stars brighter than magnitude 6 | 45 |
| Named stars (IAU) | 2 |
| Messier objects | M79 |
| Neighbors | Canis Major, Caelum, Columba, Eridanus, Monoceros, Orion |
How to find Lepus
From 40° N (the USA, southern Europe, Japan) look south in January evenings: at about 9 pm Lepus stands highest, around 31° above the southern horizon. From 35° S (Australia, South Africa, Argentina) it is highest in the north, about 74° above the horizon. The months before and after (December and February) are also good: then it is up a couple of hours earlier or later.
Lepus borders Canis Major, Caelum, Columba, Eridanus, Monoceros and Orion.
Stars of Lepus
Lepus has 45 stars brighter than magnitude 6, the limit of the naked eye under a dark sky. These are the brightest:
| Star | Designation | Magnitude | Type | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arneb | α Leporis | 2.58 | F0Ib | — |
| Nihal | β Leporis | 2.84 | G5II | 156 ly |
| — | ε Leporis | 3.19 | K5III | — |
| — | μ Leporis | 3.31 | B9IIIpHgMn | — |
| — | ζ Leporis | 3.55 | A3Vn | — |
| — | γ Leporis | 3.6 | F6V | — |
| — | η Leporis | 3.71 | F1III | — |
| — | δ Leporis | 3.81 | K0IIIFe-1.5CH0.5 | — |
| — | λ Leporis | 4.29 | B0.5IV | — |
| — | κ Leporis | 4.36 | B9V | — |
| — | ι Leporis | 4.45 | B8V | — |
Deep-sky objects in Lepus
Lepus contains one object from Charles Messier's catalog:
- Messier 79 (M79): globular cluster, 8.2 mag
Printable Lepus map and outline
A black and white version for printing and a plain outline of the Lepus figure, useful for school projects, worksheets and learning to recognize the shape.
History
Lepus is one of the 48 constellations listed by Ptolemy in the Almagest (2nd century AD). Its official boundary was drawn by Eugène Delporte for the International Astronomical Union in 1930.
Questions about Lepus
What is the brightest star in Lepus?
Arneb, at magnitude 2.58.
When can you see Lepus?
Lepus is best seen in the evening in January. The whole constellation is visible from latitudes between 63° N and 90° S.
How many stars are in Lepus?
45 stars in Lepus are brighter than magnitude 6 and can be seen with the naked eye under a dark sky; 2 of them have official IAU names.
What does Lepus mean?
Lepus means “the Hare” in Latin. Its abbreviation is Lep and the genitive, used in star names such as α Leporis, is Leporis.
