Star profile

Omega Hydrae

3D likeness based on its real data · class K · ~4,200 K

What is Omega Hydrae

Omega Hydrae is a huge orange K2 giant, with a radius nearly thirty-four times the Sun's and a luminosity four hundred times greater, yet she looks dim from Earth. The distance is to blame: 896 light-years separate her ember from our eyes. She lives on the immensely long back of Hydra, the largest constellation in the sky, a serpent that stretches across nearly a quarter of the celestial vault.

Where it is and when to see it

Omega Hydrae lies in the northern celestial hemisphere. It is visible to the naked eye under a dark sky. Its best month of the year is February, when it culminates around midnight.

From London it culminates about 44° above the horizon.
From New York it culminates about 54° above the horizon.
From Sydney it culminates about 51° above the horizon.

It can be seen from anywhere north of 85° S.

It ranks no. 44 in brightness among the 121 stars of Hydra in our catalogue. To find it, start from Alphard, the brightest: it lies about 15° away (a fist at arm's length covers about 10°).

The light you see today left it about 900 years ago.

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A public signature from a real person. The chosen name is a symbolic denomination within Stelvia, with no official standing or IAU recognition: the sky is not for sale and belongs to no one.

Astronomical data for Omega Hydrae

Constellation: Hydra
Apparent magnitude: 4.99
Distance: 896.2 light years
Coordinates (J2000): RA 136.493° · Dec 5.092°
Catalogue: HIP 44659 · HD 77996

A symbolic commemorative gift: neither the signature nor the chosen name implies ownership of the star or recognition by the IAU.

Other stars in Hydra

Hydra has 121 stars in Stelvia's catalogue. Here are a few of them.

See all 121 stars in Hydra