Constellation Hydra: location and interesting objects

Not all stars can be seen with the naked eye. Some celestial drawings consist of such dim lights that they need, at least, binoculars and ideal observation conditions to admire them. A good example is the constellation Hydra, known to many residents of the southern part of our country. It is famous for its impressive size and difficult to distinguish luminaries in its composition.

Location

Hydra occupies a vast area in the sky, but it refers to equatorial constellations, and therefore it is possible to observe it completely only in the south of Russia. In order to find the constellation, you need to find her more visible neighbors. It is located south of the heavenly drawings of the Virgin and the Lion. The brightest point of Hydra, the star of Alphard, is located near Regulus (the Leo Alpha). The most notable luminary of the August zodiac sign lies to the north of the alpha of the described heavenly figure.

The Hydra constellation is best seen from February to March. They will be admired if there is clear weather and no artificial lighting. If it is not possible to identify the constellation Hydra, a photo from the Internet, including the location of all its elements, will help to know it.

The legendary behemoth

Despite its dullness, the constellation belongs to the oldest. It is mentioned in the catalog of Ptolemy, compiled in the second century of our era. There Hydra, however, is called "Water Snake". Probably, it is connected with one of the legends about the origin of the constellation. In it, the Greek god Apollo sent a raven for water. He carried out the commission, but along with the life-giving moisture he scooped up the bowl of the serpent. An angry god threw all the participants into the sky. So there were the constellations of the Water Serpent, the Crow and the Bowl.

More often, however, the heavenly pattern is associated with the Lernaean Hydra, which Hercules defeated during his second feat. A huge monster with several heads and poisonous breathing was almost immortal. Not everyone was able to cope with it. At the place of the severed head, two new ones immediately appeared. The hero was able to defeat the monster with the help of the cunning and companion Iolaus. In memory of the feat the gods placed Hydra in the sky.

Heart of a snake

Constellation Hydra has only one bright enough luminary. This is Alphard, the alpha of the heavenly figure. The name of the star is translated as "lonely", which once again emphasizes the absence of nearby equally noticeable objects. Also, the luminary has several more no less resonant names: the Heart of the Hydra, the Heart of the Great Serpent, The Secluded Snake. Its brightness is estimated at 1.98 magnitude.

Alphard is a triple system. Its main component is 40 times larger than the Sun in size and refers to variable luminaries. Around it rotates a small double star. Alfard is removed from the Sun by about 177 light years.

In ancient Chinese chronicles, the Alpha Hydra was called the Red Bird. The reason for this is not difficult to find out - it is enough to find a star in the sky. It has a reddish tinge.

Shock Wave

However, not only Alfardus is adorned with the constellation Hydra. The scheme of this heavenly drawing includes several interesting objects. One of them is the R Hydra, a variable star of the Mira Kita type. From the Earth it is separated approximately 538 light years. The light belongs to the red giants of the spectral class M.

Visible shine R Hydra varies in the range from 3.21 to 11.00 magnitude. The period for which the luminary has so radically changed is approximately 390 days. The Hydra is known in many respects due to the fact that in 2006 the Spitzer orbital telescope made its photo in the infrared range. The image clearly shows the shock wave produced when the interstellar matter is braking as it approaches the luminary. The imprinted boundary is located at a distance of 16.29 astronomical units from the object. The thickness of the shock wave, according to scientists, is 6.188 a. E. The star moves at a speed of 50 km / s. Its shock wave, which is faster than its mass, is 400 times greater than our planet. A similar photo of this phenomenon was obtained for the first time by the red giant .

Nebulae and galaxies

What else can "boast" constellation Hydra? Photos of objects located on its territory show nebulae and galaxies. In 1785, William Herschel opened a space education here, later called the Ghost of Jupiter. This nebula NGC 3242. It can be observed in amateur telescopes. Before astronomers, she appears in a beautiful bluish-green appearance.

The constellation Hydra also includes the galaxies NGC 3923 and NGC 3621. The latter is bright enough to be seen in an amateur telescope.

Such inconspicuous constellations of the winter sky, like Hydra, attract the attention of only the most curious non-professional astronomers. However, here, among the dim lights, there are many interesting objects to explore. Alphard, galaxies and nebulae, young stars and brown dwarfs - extended Hydra is rich in curious cosmic bodies and formations.