Constellation · Hyi
Hydrus
The Lesser Water Snake
A faint southern constellation between the Magellanic Clouds and the south celestial pole.
Magnitude 2.82
Highest in the sky at 9 pm local time (winter in the northern hemisphere)
Latitudes where every part of it rises above the horizon at some time of year
The whole sky covers about 41,253 square degrees
Stars brighter than about magnitude 6, the naked-eye limit under dark skies
Can you see Hydrus from where you live?
This depends only on your latitude. Pick the row nearest to you; for your exact sky tonight, use the sky map.
| Latitude | Hydrus |
|---|---|
| 60°N | Never rises |
| 40°N | Never rises |
| 20°N | Only part of it ever clears the horizon |
| the equator | The whole constellation rises and sets |
| 20°S | The whole constellation rises and sets |
| 40°S | Visible all night, all year (it never sets) |
| 60°S | Visible all night, all year (it never sets) |
Questions about Hydrus
When is Hydrus best seen?
Hydrus stands highest in the sky at 9 pm local time in December. That makes winter evenings the best time for observers in the northern hemisphere; in the southern hemisphere the season is reversed.
What is the brightest star in Hydrus?
The brightest star in Hydrus is Beta Hydri, magnitude 2.82.
Where on Earth can you see Hydrus?
The whole of Hydrus can be seen from latitudes between about 90°S and 8°N. From 40°N: Never rises. From 35°S: Visible all night, all year (it never sets).
What does Hydrus mean?
Hydrus is Latin for "the Lesser Water Snake". Charted by Dutch navigators in the late 1500s.