Everything about Hydra Constellation totally explained
Hydra is the largest of the 88 modern
constellations, and was also one of the 48 constellations listed by
Ptolemy.
Notable features
Hydra is the largest modern constellation, at 1303 square degrees.
Despite its size, Hydra contains only one reasonably bright
star,
Alphard (α Hya, 30 Hya), which is of
apparent magnitude 1.98. The other main named star in Hydra is Sigma, σ, Hydrae, which also has the name of Minaruja, from the
Arabic for snake's nose. At magnitude 4.54, it's rather dim.
R Hydrae is a
Mira variable star that ranges in magnitude between 3.5, when it can be visible to the naked eye, to 10.9, when a
telescope is required to see it.
There are several
double stars of interest in Hydra.
Epsilon Hydrae (ε Hya) is a
binary star with components of magnitudes 3.3 and 6.8, separated by 2.7
arcseconds.
N Hydrae (N Hya) is a pair of stars of magnitudes 5.8 and 5.9.
Struve 1270 (Σ1270) consists of a pair of stars, magnitudes 6.4 and 7.4.
The constellation also contains the radio source
Hydra A.
Notable deep sky objects
The constellation Hydra contains three Messier objects.
M83, also known as the Southern Pinwheel Galaxy, is located on the border of Hydra and
Centaurus,
M68 is a
globular cluster near M83, and
M48 is an
open star cluster in the western end of the serpent.
Mythology
The constellation Hydra resembles a twisting
snake, and features as such in some Greek myths. In
Greek mythology, a
crow serves
Apollo. It is sent to fetch water, but it rests lazily on the journey, and after finally obtaining the water in a cup, takes back a water snake as well, as an excuse. According to the myth, Apollo saw through the fraud, and angrily cast the crow, cup, and snake, into the sky. The origin of this story is likely to be the juxtaposition of this constellation with those of
Crater, and
Corvus, in the area of the sky known as the
Sea.
The Hydra was also considered to be the
Lernaean Hydra (as defeated by
Heracles for one of his
Twelve Labours) by the Greeks. Its position in the sky (below the
ecliptic), together with the constellation
Cancer (which lies near its head) may be the origin of parts of the myth.
Further Information
Get more info on 'Hydra Constellation'.
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