Hydrus: The Water Snake
Pronunciation: HIGH-drus
| Hydrus Constellation Profile | |
|---|---|
| Abbreviation: Hyi | Genitive: Hydri |
| Origin: Keyser/de Houtman | Location: Southern Hemisphere |
| Best View (North): | Best View (South): |
| Bordering Constellations: Octans, Mensa, Dorado, Reticulum, Horologium, Eridanus, Phoenix, Tucana | |
The Myth Behind the Constellation Hydrus
Hydrus, “The Water Snake”, is one of the 12 constellations introduced by navigators Pieter Dirkszoon Keyser and Frederick de Houtman, two sixteenth-century Dutchman who observed the southern skies. It is another of their creations based on animals they saw on their travels. Hydrus is a male water snake, while Hydra would be a female water snake.Hydrus Constellation Points of Interest
Interesting stars and objects.Bright Stars in Hydrus
These are the stars in Hydrus with a minimum magnitude of 3.0.| Name | Bayer Name | Magnitude | Color | Luminosity | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beta Hydri | Beta Hydri | 2.82 | Yellow | 3.8 suns | 24 ly |
| Alpha Hydri | Alpha Hydri | 2.86 | Yellow-White | 32 suns | 71 ly |