Between the starry galactic clumps of the Large and Small Magellanic Clouds within the Southern Hemisphere lies a patch of quiet sky. Few vivid stars or deep-sky objects lie right here. However this territory is dwelling to the constellation Hydrus.
Hydrus the Lesser Water Snake
Hydrus the Lesser Water Snake is the southern counterpart to Hydra the Water Snake. Hydra is the longest and largest constellation within the sky. Hydrus, alternatively, is lesser in all methods. Hydrus is 61st in measurement out of the 88 constellations. Hydra has three Messier objects whereas Hydrus has none.
Hydrus lies subsequent to Octans, the constellation that encircles the south celestial pole. The boundaries of the Lesser Water Snake slither backwards and forwards between its neighboring constellations, however its stars are fairly dim. You might have issue tracing the form, so dark skies are essential.
The celebrities of the Lesser Water Snake
The brightest star in Hydrus is Beta Hydri at magnitude 2.82. It’s additionally the brightest star near the south celestial pole. Though it at the moment lies 12 degrees from the south celestial pole, round 2,000 years in the past it was simply two levels away, as a consequence of precession. Beta Hydri lies about 24 light-years away from Earth.
The second brightest star of Hydrus lies at its different finish. Alpha Hydri is magnitude 2.86 and lies 71 light-years away. Gamma Hydri is the third brightest and marks the sharp flip within the physique of the Lesser Water Snake. Gamma Hydri is magnitude 3.26 and 214 light-years distant. The fourth and fifth brightest stars in Hydrus are of an identical brightness and lie subsequent to one another. Epsilon Hydri is magnitude 4.12 at a distance of 153 light-years and Delta Hydri is magnitude 4.08 at a distance of 140 light-years.
Backside line: Hydrus the Lesser Water Snake lies between the Giant and Small Magellanic Clouds in Southern Hemisphere skies.
