Hydrus, the Male Water Snake, is a far southern constellation lying between the two Magellanic Clouds, home to Beta Hydri, a nearby star like the Sun.
At a glance
| stars in the figure | 4 |
|---|---|
| nearest star of the figure | Beta Hydri, 24.3 light-years (7.46 pc) |
| farthest star of the figure | Gamma Hydri, 214 light-years (65.6 pc) |
| depth | the farthest is 8.8 × farther than the nearest |
Read off the piece’s own catalogue, the same values it draws with.
About Hydrus
Hydrus was drawn from the observations of the Dutch navigators Pieter Dirkszoon Keyser and Frederick de Houtman and given its form by Petrus Plancius. It is a small, male counterpart to the ancient Hydra, a zigzag of a few stars winding from Achernar towards the south celestial pole, and from mid-southern latitudes it never sets.
Beta Hydri, close to the pole, is one of the nearest stars resembling the Sun. It is somewhat older, and has begun to swell as it leaves the long, steady stage of its life, offering a glimpse of what lies ahead for the Sun. Alpha Hydri, a white star, sits near Achernar, and Gamma Hydri is a red giant. The snake’s body lies between the Large and Small Magellanic Clouds.
What you see in the piece
With CONSTELLATIONS on, fly out: Beta Hydri is a close neighbour while Gamma Hydri lies many times farther away, and the zigzag that looks flat from Earth points deep into space. The Magellanic Clouds behind it are far beyond any of its stars.
Questions
How far away is Beta Hydri?
Beta Hydri, the nearest star of the figure, is 24.3 light-years (7.46 pc) from the Sun.
How deep is the figure of Hydrus?
Its farthest star, Gamma Hydri, is 214 light-years (65.6 pc) away, 8.8 × farther than Beta Hydri.