Hydrus

Hydrus

Constellation
List of stars in Hydrus
Abbreviation	Hyi
Genitive	Hydri
Pronunciation	/ˈhaɪdrəs/, genitive /ˈhaɪdraɪ/
Symbolism	the water snake
Right ascension	0h05m - 4h40m
Declination	−58° - −82
Area	243 sq. deg. (61st)
Main stars	3
Bayer/Flamsteed stars	19
Stars with known planets	1
Bright stars	2
Nearby stars	1
Brightest star	beta Hyi (2.82m)
Nearest star	beta Hyi (24.37 ly)
Messier objects	none
Meteor showers	none
Bordering constellations	Dorado Eridanus Horologium Mensa Octans Phoenix (corner) Reticulum Tucana
Visible at latitudes between +8° and −90°. Best visible at 21:00 (9 p.m.) during the month of November.

Hydrus is a small constellation in the southern sky, created in the sixteenth century. Its name means "male water snake", and it should not be confused with Hydra, a much larger constellation which represents a female water snake.

History

Hydrus was one of twelve constellations created by Petrus Plancius from the observations of Pieter Dirkszoon Keyser and Frederick de Houtman and it first appeared on a 35-cm diameter celestial globe published in 1597 (or 1598) in Amsterdam by Plancius with Jodocus Hondius. The first depiction of this constellation in a celestial atlas was in Johann Bayer's Uranometria of 1603.^[1]

Notable features

The only star in Hydrus that anyone seems to have named is γ Hyi, which in China is known as Foo Pih. The constellation contains IC 1717.

Citations

See also

• USS Hydrus (AKA-28)

References

• Ian Ridpath and Wil Tirion (2007). Stars and Planets Guide, Collins, London. ISBN 978-0007251209. Princeton University Press, Princeton. ISBN 978-0691135564.

External links

• Chandra information about Hydrus
• The Deep Photographic Guide to the Constellations: Hydrus
• Star Tales – Hydrus

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Hydrus

Coordinates: 02^h 00^m 00^s, −70° 00′ 00″