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 October 26, 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
- October 26
- Highest at 9 pm
- December 10
- 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 October 26 and at 9 pm around December 10. Each month it is highest about two hours earlier than the month before.
The times are local solar time. Clocks on daylight saving time read about one hour later.
| Date | Highest at |
|---|---|
| January 15 | 6:40 p.m. |
| February 15 | 4:40 p.m. |
| March 15 | 2:50 p.m. |
| April 15 | 12:40 p.m. |
| May 15 | 10:50 a.m. |
| June 15 | 8:40 a.m. |
| July 15 | 6:50 a.m. |
| August 15 | 4:40 a.m. |
| September 15 | 2:40 a.m. |
| October 15 | 12:40 a.m. |
| November 15 | 10:40 p.m. |
| December 15 | 8:40 p.m. |
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 October 26, 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 October 26 and at 9 pm around December 10. 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.