Hydrus constellation
Hydrus is one of the 88 constellations, and it represents the lesser water snake. It is highest in the sky at midnight around 26 October, and its whole figure rises above the horizon from 13°N to 90°S.
Hydrus at a glance
- Represents
- the lesser water snake
- Highest at midnight
- 26 October
- Highest at 9 pm
- 10 December
- Seen whole from
- 13°N to 90°S
- Stars in the figure
- 5 stars
- Origin
- Dutch navigators, 1590s
When to see Hydrus
Hydrus is highest in the sky at midnight around 26 October and at 9 pm around 10 December. Each month it is highest about two hours earlier than the month before.
The times are local solar time. Clocks on summer time or daylight saving time read about one hour later.
| Date | Highest at |
|---|---|
| 15 January | 6:40 PM |
| 15 February | 4:40 PM |
| 15 March | 2:50 PM |
| 15 April | 12:40 PM |
| 15 May | 10:50 AM |
| 15 June | 8:40 AM |
| 15 July | 6:50 AM |
| 15 August | 4:40 AM |
| 15 September | 2:40 AM |
| 15 October | 12:40 AM |
| 15 November | 10:40 PM |
| 15 December | 8:40 PM |
Where to look for Hydrus
From the northern hemisphere
From 40°N, Hydrus never rises. You need to be south of 29°N to see any of it.
From the southern hemisphere
From 35°S, Hydrus never sets. It circles the pole and is highest around midnight on 26 October, 55° above the southern horizon.
Brightest stars in Hydrus
None of the stars of Hydrus is brighter than magnitude 2.3, so it is best seen from a dark place away from city lights. Its brightest stick-figure stars are about magnitude 2.
Hydrus in myth and history
Hydrus was added in the 1590s from the southern stars that the Dutch navigators Pieter Dirkszoon Keyser and Frederick de Houtman recorded.
Constellations next to Hydrus
Find Hydrus in your sky
Questions about Hydrus
Hydrus is highest in the sky at midnight around 26 October and at 9 pm around 10 December. The weeks around those dates are the best time to look.
The whole figure of Hydrus rises above the horizon from 13°N to 90°S, and at least part of it rises from 29°N to 90°S.
Hydrus represents the lesser water snake. Hydrus was added in the 1590s from the southern stars that the Dutch navigators Pieter Dirkszoon Keyser and Frederick de Houtman recorded.