Star profile

Zhang

Upsilon 1 Hydrae · Hydra

3D likeness based on its real data · class G · ~5,500 K

What is Zhang

Zhang is a yellow giant in the body of Hydra, with a name inherited from Chinese astronomy: «Zhang» designated one of the twenty-eight lunar mansions through which the Moon traced its monthly cycle. At 264 light-years, its golden light reaches us from a century in which the Jesuit astronomers in Beijing were slowly introducing Western astronomy into the imperial court.

Where it is and when to see it

Zhang 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 24° above the horizon.
From New York it culminates about 34° above the horizon.
From Sydney it culminates about 71° above the horizon.

It can be seen from anywhere south of 75° N.

It ranks no. 13 in brightness among the 121 stars of Hydra in our catalogue. To find it, start from Alphard, the brightest: it lies about 9° away (a fist at arm's length covers about 10°).

The light you see today left it about 260 years ago.

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Astronomical data for Zhang

Constellation: Hydra
Apparent magnitude: 4.11
Distance: 263.9 light years
Coordinates (J2000): RA 147.870° · Dec -14.847°
Catalogue: HIP 48356 · HD 85444

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Other stars in Hydra

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

See all 121 stars in Hydra