Hydra (constellation)

Hydra is a constellation that has parts in the northern sky and parts in the southern sky. It is the biggest constellation. It represents a water snake. The astronomer named Ptolemy listed Hydra when he made a list of 48 constellations. It is also one of the 88 modern constellations that were made by the International Astronomical Union.

Hydra

Constellation
List of stars in Hydra
Abbreviation	Hya
Genitive	Hydrae
Pronunciation	/ˈhaɪdrə/ genitive /ˈhaɪdriː/
Symbolism	the sea serpent
Right ascension	8–15
Declination	−20
Quadrant	SQ2
Area	1303 sq. deg. (1st)
Main stars	17
Bayer/Flamsteed stars	75
Stars with planets	16
Stars brighter than 3.00m	2
Stars within 10.00 pc (32.62 ly)	4
Brightest star	Alphard (α Hya) (1.98m)
Messier objects	3
Meteor showers	Alpha Hydrids Sigma Hydrids
Bordering constellations	Antlia Cancer Canis Minor Centaurus Corvus Crater Leo Libra Lupus (corner) Monoceros Puppis Pyxis Sextans Virgo
Visible at latitudes between +54° and −83°. Best visible at 21:00 (9 p.m.) during the month of April.

Map of the constellation

Even though Hydra is a very big constellation, it only has one bright star. This star is named Alphard. Alphard means "the solitary one" in Arabic. Hydra actually has little to identify it exept for a cluster of stars at its head.