Hydra, the Water Monster (Hya)

(HIGH-druh)

The Southern constellation of Hydra, the Water Monster, is best viewed in Spring during the month of April. It's brightest star is Alphard at magnitude 1.98. The boundary of the Hydra constellation contains 23 stars that host known exoplanets.

WISE 0855?0714 is the 4th closest star to Earth at 7.26 light years.

1. Pronunciation:
2. HIGH-druh

1. Meaning:
2. Water Monster

1. Genitive:
2. Hydrae

1. Abbreviation:
2. Hya

1. Constellation Family:
2. Hercules

1. Hemisphere:
2. Southern

1. Quadrant:
2. SQ2

1. Best viewing month*:
2. April

1. Right Ascension (avg):
2. 9h 8m

1. Declination (avg):
2. -11° 41'

1. Brightest star:
2. Alphard (1.98)

1. Stars with planets:
2. 23

1. Messier catalog objects:
2. M48 | M68 | M83 |

1. Caldwell catalog objects:
2. C59 | C66 |

Brightest Stars in Hydra

The 10 brightest stars in the constellation Hydra by magnitude.

1. Star
2. Magnitude
3. Spectral class

1. Alpha Hydrae (α Hya)
2. 1.99
3. K3III

1. Gamma Hydrae (γ Hya)
2. 2.99
3. G8III

1. Zeta Hydrae (ζ Hya)
2. 3.11
3. G8III-IV

1. Nu Hydrae (ν Hya)
2. 3.11
3. K0/K1III

1. Pi Hydrae (π Hya)
2. 3.25
3. K2III

1. Epsilon Hydrae (ε Hya)
2. 3.38
3. G0III-IV

1. Xi Hydrae (ξ Hya)
2. 3.54
3. G8III

1. Lambda Hydrae (λ Hya)
2. 3.61
3. K0III

1. Mu Hydrae (μ Hya)
2. 3.83
3. K4III

1. Theta Hydrae (θ Hya)
2. 3.89
3. B9.5V

Double Stars in hydra

These are the brightest and easiest-to-find double, triple, and quadruple star systems in the constellation hydra. Also see all star clusters.

1. Star system
2. Magnitudes
3. Type

1. N hydrae
2. 5.6, 5.7
3. double

Star Clusters in Hydra

The most notable and easy-to-find star clusters in the constellation Hydra . Also see all star clusters.

1. Star cluster
2. Catalog #
3. Cluster type

1. Messier 48
2. M48
3. open

1. Messier 68
2. M68
3. globular

1. NGC 5694
3. globular

Nebulae in Hydra

Notable and easy-to-find nebulae in the constellation Hydra . Also see all nebulae.

1. Nebula name
2. Catalog #
3. Nebula type

1. Ghost of Jupiter
2. C59
3. planetary

1. Southern Owl Nebula
3. planetary

Galaxies in Hydra

The most notable, famous, and easy-to-find galaxies in the constellation Hydra . Also see all galaxies.

1. Galaxy name
2. Alt name
3. Galaxy type

1. Hydra A
3. galaxy cluster

1. Southern Pinwheel Galaxy
2. M83
3. barred spiral

Milky Way Satellites in Hydra

Dwarf satellite galaxies that orbit the Milky Way Galaxy located in the constellation Hydra. Also see all Milky Way satellite galaxies.

1. Galaxy name
2. Alt name
3. Magnitude

1. Hydra II

Neutron Stars in Hydra

These are the most well-known neutron stars in the constellation Hydra. Although neutron stars cannot be seen in any amateur telescope, they are at the center of many supernova remnant nebulae, which can be seen. Also see all neutron stars.

1. Neutron star
3. Type

1. GW170817
3. merger

* For southern latitudes, flip the season listed. For example, if a constellation is listed as best viewed in the summer in the month of July, in the southern hemisphere the constellation would be best viewed in the winter in January and would be upside-down.

** Circumpolar constellations are visible year-round in the hemisphere listed (and not at all in the opposite).