Hydra (constellation)

Hydra

Constellation
List of stars in Hydra
Abbreviation	Hya
Genitive	Hydrae
Pronunciation	/ˈhaɪdrə/ genitive /ˈhaɪdriː/
Symbolism	the sea serpent
Right ascension	8h 10m 56.2029s – 15h 02m 31.3847s
Declination	6.6302376° – −35.6938896°
Quadrant	SQ2
Area	1303 sq. deg. (1st)
Main stars	17
Bayer/Flamsteed stars	75
Stars with planets	18
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.

Hydra is the largest of the 88 modern constellations, measuring 1303 square degrees, and also the longest at over 100 degrees. Its southern end borders Libra and Centaurus and its northern end borders Cancer.^[1] It was included among the 48 constellations listed by the 2nd century astronomer Ptolemy. Commonly represented as a water snake, it straddles the celestial equator.