Star profile

Alphard

Alpha Hydrae · Hydra

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

What is Alphard

Alphard means «the solitary one» in Arabic: an orange giant 180 light-years from the Earth, reigning almost without visible company around it over the long, sprawling constellation of Hydra. Its apparent loneliness so struck medieval astronomers that the name has survived intact for a thousand years, with no other tradition managing to displace it. Its warm glow, strong enough to pierce the light pollution of any European city without losing presence, carries the particular stillness of things set apart from everything else and yet still managing to make themselves noticed.

Where it is and when to see it

Alphard lies in the southern 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 30° above the horizon.
From New York it culminates about 41° above the horizon.
From Sydney it culminates about 65° above the horizon.

It can be seen from anywhere south of 81° N.

It is the brightest of the 121 stars of Hydra in our catalogue, which makes it the best starting point for finding your way around the constellation.

The light you see today left it about 180 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 Alphard

Constellation: Hydra
Apparent magnitude: 1.99
Distance: 180.3 light years
Coordinates (J2000): RA 141.897° · Dec -8.659°
Catalogue: HIP 46390 · HD 81797

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