// Constellation
Hydra
“Sea Serpent”
- Latin name
- Hydra (Hya)
- Best visibility
- evenings in April
- Fully visible between
- 54° N – 83° S
- Naked-eye stars
- 121
Hydra is highest in the evening sky (around 9 pm) in April. The whole constellation rises above the horizon between 54° N and 83° S. Its brightest star is Alphard at magnitude 1.99 — about 180 light-years away.
The brightest stars
| Star | Designation | Magnitude | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alphard | α Hya | 1.99 | 180 ly |
| — | γ Hya | 2.99 | 134 ly |
| — | ζ Hya | 3.11 | 167 ly |
| — | ν Hya | 3.11 | 144 ly |
| — | π Hya | 3.25 | 101 ly |
| Ashlesha | ε Hya | 3.38 | 129 ly |
More constellations
Star data: HYG database. Constellation borders: IAU.