– What are the main stars that make up the constellation Hydrus?
Constellation Hydrus
Discover the wonders of the constellation Hydrus, also known as the lesser water snake, a small but fascinating group of stars in the southern sky. This celestial beauty was first mapped out by Dutch astronomer Petrus Plancius in the late 16th century and is part of his collection of 12 constellations featured on celestial globes.
Situated in the far southern sky, Hydrus can only be seen from latitudes below 20 degrees north. Despite its dimness, this constellation holds unique treasures with no star shining brighter than fourth magnitude. The standout star in Hydrus is Alpha Hydri, a binary system located approximately 74 light years away from our planet.
Mythology
In ancient Greek mythology, Hydra was a fearsome serpent monster with multiple heads that wreaked havoc on Lerna’s kingdom. The legendary hero Hercules took on this beast as one of his twelve labors and successfully defeated it by severing its heads while his nephew Iolaus prevented their regrowth by cauterizing them.
Notable Features
Despite its modest size and faint appearance, Hydrus boasts intriguing celestial objects worth exploring. Among them is NGC 1042, a globular cluster located an impressive 400 million light years away housing hundreds of thousands of stars.
An additional highlight within Hydrus is NGC 1097, a captivating spiral galaxy positioned around 45 million light years from Earth renowned for its luminous central bar and tightly coiled spiral arms. Amateur astronomers favor observing NGC 1097 due to its striking features.
Exploration
While not widely recognized, Hydrus has left an indelible mark on astronomy history. Dutch navigator Pieter Dirkszoon Keyser made the first recorded sighting of this constellation during an expedition for the Dutch East India Company in 1595. Plancius later utilized Keyser’s observations to delineate what we now know as Constellation Hydra.
To witness this hidden gem at its best, head to the southern hemisphere during summer months where with clear skies and basic equipment like binoculars or a small telescope you can marvel at objects like NGC1042 and NGC1097 waiting to be discovered within Constellation Hydra.
