Hydra, the Water Monster (Hya)
(HIGH-druh)
The 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.
- Pronunciation:
- HIGH-druh
- Meaning:
- Water Monster
- Genitive:
- Hydrae
- Abbreviation:
- Hya
- Constellation Family:
- Hercules
- Hemisphere:
- Southern
- Quadrant:
- SQ2
- Best viewing month*:
- April
- Right Ascension (avg):
- 9h 8m
- Declination (avg):
- -11° 41'
- Brightest star:
- Alphard (1.98)
- Stars with planets:
- 23
Double Stars in hydra
These are the brightest and easiest-to-find double, triple, and quadruple star systems in the constellation hydra.
- Star system
- Magnitudes
- Type
- N hydrae
- 5.6, 5.7
- double
Star Clusters in Hydra
The most notable, famous, and easy-to-find star clusters in the constellation Hydra :
Nebulae in Hydra
The most notable, famous, and easy-to-find nebulae in the constellation Hydra :
Galaxies in Hydra
The most notable, famous, and easy-to-find galaxies in the constellation Hydra :
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.
* 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).