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.
- 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
Brightest Stars in Hydra
The 10 brightest stars in the constellation Hydra by magnitude.
- Star
- Magnitude
- Spectral class
- Alpha Hydrae (α Hya)
- 1.99
- K3III
- Gamma Hydrae (γ Hya)
- 2.99
- G8III
- Zeta Hydrae (ζ Hya)
- 3.11
- G8III-IV
- Nu Hydrae (ν Hya)
- 3.11
- K0/K1III
- Pi Hydrae (π Hya)
- 3.25
- K2III
- Epsilon Hydrae (ε Hya)
- 3.38
- G0III-IV
- Xi Hydrae (ξ Hya)
- 3.54
- G8III
- Lambda Hydrae (λ Hya)
- 3.61
- K0III
- Mu Hydrae (μ Hya)
- 3.83
- K4III
- Theta Hydrae (θ Hya)
- 3.89
- 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.
- Star system
- Magnitudes
- Type
- N hydrae
- 5.6, 5.7
- double
Star Clusters in Hydra
The most notable and easy-to-find star clusters in the constellation Hydra . Also see all star clusters.
Nebulae in Hydra
Notable and easy-to-find nebulae in the constellation Hydra . Also see all nebulae.
Galaxies in Hydra
The most notable, famous, and easy-to-find galaxies in the constellation Hydra . Also see all galaxies.
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.
- Galaxy name
- Alt name
- Magnitude
- 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.
* Constellation shown for northen hemisphere skies. For the southern hemisphere, constellations appear rotated 180 degrees (upside-down and left-right reversed) from what is shown. Remember that seasons are reversed too - summer in northern latitudes is winter in southern latitudes.
** Circumpolar constellations are visible year-round in the hemisphere listed (and not at all in the opposite hemisphere).